
Qass-Q.T2.7S . 



THE DEFENCE 

OF 

SIMON WILMER: 

WHICH ILLUSTRATES . 

INGRATITUDE, 

TO EXCITE INDIGNATION; 

MISFORTUNE, 

TO ROUZE SYMPATHY ; 

AND 

FACT, 

TO ESTABLISH 

INNOCENCE. 



**■ Curst cows short horns great Jove has wisely given, 
"Lest tfiey might hurt the chosen ones of Heaven." 



BALTIMORE: 

PRINTED BY COLE AND HEWES, FOR THE AUTHOR, 

1805. 



TO MY FELLOW-CITIZENS. 

As the moft wanton cruelties, calumnies and per- 
fections have been directed againft me for fever al 
months paft, in order to deftroy me and entail dif- 
grace on my family, I hope my fellow-citizens will 
permit me to trefpafs on their patience fo far as to 
read the following pages : and it is then for them 
to decide, how far friendmip has been tortured into 
crime, and how far ingratitude has concurred with 
malice in the attempt to exhibit me as a wretch un- 
fit for exiftence here, and worthy of a hellifh defti- 
ny hereafter. 

In giving publicity to fa&s, I may occafionally 
offer to the reader fome obfervations refulting from 
the fucceffion of painful events which have occurred 
fince the commencement of this malignant and in- 
veterate perfecution ; but it is my intention to con- 
fine myfelf principally to record teftimony, and to 
thofe characters who have afcended to the altitude 
of open war againft me ; and as I fhall be neceffi- 
tated to fubftantiate my innocence againft each res- 
pective charge, I fhall divide my defence into chap- 
ters. As my misfortunes originated in loaning my 
fignature to S. Ringgold, Efq. (in i8oi)I (hail pub- 
lifh the correfpondence which contains my autho- 
rities for my extenfive negociations for him and 
with him. I have to remark, that the expofure of 
confidential or commercial letters would, in moft 



IV 



cafes, be highly difhonourable ; but when the con- 
tents of fuch letters, teeming with profeflions of 
fincerity and friend/hip, have been proftituted to 
the bafeft purpofes by the writers, I flatter myfelf 1 
fhall fland acquitted of impropriety in public opi- 
nion for making fuch ufe of letters' as circumftances 
may require. 

gj" Original letters in the hands of the printers. 



SIMON WILMER'S DEFENCE, 



TO HIS EXCELLENCY ROBERT BOWIE, GOVERNOR 
OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, 

The Petition of Simon Wilmer, of the city of Baltimore, 
. RESPECTFULLY REPRESENTS, 

THAT for fome time pad he has carried 
on bufmefs very extenfively, as a merchant, in the 
city of Baltimore. That he has been unfuccefsful in 
his bufmefs and is finally ruined, being involved in 
debt more than he is competent at this time to pay. 
Your petitioner dates, that it was his misfortune to 
enter into partnerflup with a certain Robert Cooke 
and Walter Wilfon, and that upon the diifolution of 
the partnership, by mifplaced confidence, he was 
involved in a debt to the faid Cooke and Wilfon* — - 
Your petitioner (rates, that immediately after the 
diilolution of the faid partnership, his private bu- 
fmefs called him to his farm on the Eaftern Shore 
of this llate, and that during his abfence the faid 
Cooke and Wilfon, in violation of all moral obli- 
gation, made oath that your petitioner had abfeond- 
ed with an intent to evade the payment of his debt?, 
and did in confequence of fuch oath, obtain an at- 
tachment againft the property of your petitioner, 
thereby feizing all his houfehold furnkure, all the 
family of your petitioner being and remaining in the 
city of Baltimore. — Your petitioner dates, chat in a 
few days after, he returned to Baltimore, and gave 
bail to a Yery confiderable amount, for all the claims--* 



that had been brought againft him. — Your peti- 
tioner dates, that at the fitting of rhe court of oyer 
and terminer and general goal delivery for Balti- 
more county in the month of November laft pad, 
the faid Cooke and Wilfon of their further malice, 
did voluntarily offer themfelves as witneifes to the 
grand inqueft of the county, then fitting, and did 
caufe and procure themfelves to be fworn as wit- 
nefles to the faid inqueft, and require other wit- 
neffes to be fworn to the faid inqueft, and upon the 
Ex parte teftimony which was given to the faid grand 
inqueft your petitioner was prefented for altering 
and changing a certain note of the honourable 
Robert Wright, and by a fecond prefentment was 
charged with altering and changing a certain note 
of Samuel Ringgold, Efq. and of paffing the faid 
two notes to the faid Cooke and Wilfon ; and by a 
third prefentment was charged with altering and 
changing one other note of the faid Samuel Ring- 
gold, and paffing the fame to a certain Jofias Ste- 
venfon of the city of Baltimore ; and by one other 
prefentment was charged with altering the note of a 
certain Hezekiah Waters of the city of Baltimore, 
and of paffing the fame to a certain John Strieker 
of the city of Baltimore ; and by one other prefent- 
ment was charged, in the following very extraordi- 
nary manner, to wit: for negotiating a note under the 
fignature of John Gibfon, to a certain Nathan Ty- 
fon, " which faid note John Gibfon fays is forged" 
—Your petitioner ftates, that as foon as the faid 
prefentments were made, his friends came forward 
and entered into recognizances with him and for 
him to meet the trial of the faid charges. Your pe- 
titioner ftates, that indictments were preferred upon 
the firft four prefentments, but not upon the laft, 
owing as your petitioner believes, to the fame not 



having been brought forward, until the grand jury 
was about to rife* — Your petitioner ftates, that as 
foon as the indictments were found, he offered him- 
felf for immediate trial; but the fame could not then 
be had, becaufe that the county court was commenc- 
ing its feflion ; but an adjournment was made for 
about two weeks, at which time he put himfelf upon 
trial of the faid indictments, and was acquitted of 
the fame, the jury not retiring from their box, in 
the firft cafes, and withdrawing for about three 
minutes only in the laft cafe, which was owing to 
the following circumftance. — The county court up- 
on the trial of the laft indictment was fitting and 
had pofleflion of the court-houfe, and the court of 
oyer and terminer had to fit in the room of a tavern, 
where there was no accommodation for a jury box, 
and no opportunity of confulting each other. — 
Your petitioner feels himfelf authorifed to fay, that 
his acquittal on thefe four feveral indictments was 
had upon the merits of the cafe, and gave fatisfac- 
tion to all who heard the trial. 

Your petitioner has already fuggefted that by mis- 
fortune and mifplaced confidence, he is ruined in 
his circumftances and has to petition the legiflature 
for an aft of infolvency, that he may be releafed 
from debts which he is unable wholly to pay, and 
that his future labours may be the means of fup- 
porting his family. — Your petitioner begs leave to 
ftate to your excellency, that while the laft men- 
tioned prefentment remains untried . he cannot afk 
a favour of the legiflature. — Had there been time 
to prepare an idictment, he would have gone on to 
his trial, but without indictment this could not be 
done. — Your petitioner, confcious of his own in- 
nocence, feeling that moll unwarrantable means 
have been made ufe of, to devote him a victim by 



malice and perfecution, having taken his trial upon 
four fimilar charges, humbly prays that your ex* 
cellency would grant him a Nol/i Profequi upon the 
very extraordinary prefentment made againft him 
for negociating a note to Nathan Tyfon, under the 
Signature of John Gibfon, winch laid note John 
Gibfon fays is forged, — Your petitioner would not 
afkthis interference of your excellency, if he cou'd 
have an early opportunity of trial, or if he was not 
under the neceffity of petitioning for an a£t of in- 
iblvency which he cannot do, while the faid charge 
reds upon him. He begs leave to (late, that the 
legiflature will neceflarily rife, before a trial of the 
faid charges can be had. and a year's fupport to his 
riling family will thereby neceflarily be loft. — 
Your petitioner therefore hopes and prays that your 
excellency will be pleafed to grant a Nol/i Profequi 
— and your petitioner will pray. 

S. WILMER. 
Baltimore, 14/A. December ', 1804. 

We the fubferibers, petit jurors upon the trial of 
all the cafes within mentioned, do add our recom- 
mendation and prayer, that his excellency the go- 
vernor will grant the prayer of the within petition. 
Samuel Owings, Henry Craig, 

Ebenezer Wales, Henry Browne, 

William Richardfon, jun. George Poe, 
Walter Crook, John M'Kean, 

Note.... The reft of the jurors were talifmen, 
whofe fignatures were alfo offered to me ; but J pre- 
ferred thofe jurors who heard ail the teftimony in 
every cafe. 

November Term, 1804. 
The grand inqueft for the body of Baltimore 
county, do upon their oaths, prefent Simon Wil- 



9 

mer for negociating to Nathan Tyfon, a note un- 
der the fignature of John Gibfon, for .$2000 pay- 
able to Simon Wilmer fixty days after the date, 
which faid note John Gibfon fays is forged, and 
now in the hands of Frederick Price. 

GEORGE GRUNDY, Foreman. 
Witnejes, 

John Gibson, 
Nathan Tyson, 
Frederick Price. 
True Copy, 

WM. GIBSON, Clk. 

State of Maryland to wit, 

I hereby certify that a very few days previous 
to the day that publicity was given to the co-part- 
nerfhip of " Wilmer, Cooke & Wilfon," that 
Walter Wilfon called on me to afcertain the 
amount of paper that I had difcounted or Jhaved, 
out of doors for account of Mr. Wilmer, and then 
informed of the contemplated connection. My re- 
ply was that I mull: fee Mr. Wilmer, and obtain 
his permiffion, which having got, I exhibited the 
amount of the tranfa&ions to the faid Mr. Wilfon, 
and he then informed me that it exactly cor- 
refponded with' Mr, W r ilmer's ftatement — and 
that all notes with Mr. Wilmer, either as pay- 
er or endorfer, fhould in future be brought to 
them, and that arrangements mould be made for 
taking them out of the market. On my calling on 
faid Wilfon to inform him that one of the faid 
notes would become due in a few days, the faid 
Wilfon referred me to Mr. Wilmer, faying that in 
future he (Mr. Wilmer) was to retire thofe notes 
himfelf— -which event extremely embarraffed Mr, 
Wilmer. 

JB 



10 

And I further certify, that in the month of Janu- 
ary laft I did negociate a note received from, and 
endorfed by, the faid Wilmer with faid Wilfon — 
fo that he could not be ignorant of Mr. Wiimer's 
being often and much preffed for money. 

THOMAS BARKL1E, Broker. 
Bali more ^ Dec. ig, 1804. 

We the fubfcribers do hereby certify to his ex- 
cellency the governour of Maryland, that the perfons 
-who have recommended the petition of Simon Wil- 
mer of the city of Baltimore to the favourable notice 
of the governour, are citizens of the firft refpeda- 
bility, and unqueftionably entitled to weight and 
confidence. Relying upon their reprefentation, 
we hefitate not to fay that Simon Wilmer is a 
proper object for the exercife of mercv and com- 
panion. JOHN STEPHEN, 

ANDREW ELLICOTT, jun. 
Annapolis , Dec. 19, 1804. 

This is to certify, that I lived with Mr. Simon 
Wilmer, or Edward, for near three years. Seeing 
a note figned by Mr. John Gibfon in the hands of 
Frederick Price, Efq. and by him denied to be his 
note, as I was informed by Mr. Wilmer ; I hereby 
declare to the publick that I believe it to be his fig- 
nature, and am willing at any time when called up- 
on to make oath. Given under my hand, this 8th 
January, 1805. 

JOSEPH REDGRAVE, 
Supercargo of Sch'r. Mary Amu 

To his Excellency the Governour of Maryland. 
We the fubfcribers do earneflly pray and recom- 
mend, that the petition of fcignon Wilmer maybe 



11 

complied with and granted by thegovernour. We 
confider him an unfortunate perfecuted man. Many 
of us have had confiderable dealings with him, and 
have found him honed and upright, and are 
anxious that he ihould be reftored to fociety, where 
his induftry will be ufeful to the community and to 
his family. 

Thomas Holiingsworth, Levering & Nelms, 

Enoch Levering, John & Aaron Levering, 

Woods, Denison & Co. Solomon Betts, 

A. Clopper, Wm. Wilson & Sons, 

Francis Holiingsworth, Levi Hollingsworth, 

Edward Harris, B. Williams, 

Henry Payson, Isaac Phillips, 

Geo. W. Blackeston, Nathan Levering. 
Valiant & Chambers, 



In our commercial tranfa&ions with Simon Wil- 

mer we have always found him prompt, punctual 
and honourable. 

EUicott & Co. Wm. Matthews, 

Tyson & Norris, Wm. Lorman, 

Wm. Norris & Wm. Tyson, Richard H. Jones^ 
Philip Uhler, Samuel Stump, 

Geo. W. Todd, Mitchel & Sheppard, 

Charles Crook & Co. J. Ogleby & D. Winchester 

Tagart & Calwell, Ligelow & Proud. 

Hezekiah Waters, 

H. Waters is the gentleman whofe note has been 
fo induftrioufly clamoured throughout the ftate — ■■ 
his teftimony goes not only to eilablifh my inno- 
cence, but his fignature is offered as teftimonial of 
my honour. 

State oJMaryland) to wit : 

I Ninian Pinckney, clerk of the Executive 
council of the faid ftate, do hereby certify that the 
foregoing petition figned by Simon Wilme r, the 
recommendation of the petit jurors, the cer tificate 
of Thomas Barklie, the certificate of John S tephea 



12 

and Andrew Ellicott, join, the certificate of Jofeph 
Redgrave, the Petition of Thomas Hollingfworth 
and others, the certificate of Eliicot & Co, and 
others, and the prefentment of the grand jury of 
Baltimore county, are true copies from the originals 
on the file, in the executive chamber of the date of 
Maryland, In witnefs whereof I have hereunto fet 
my hand this eleventh day of January, in the year 
of our Lord one thoufand eight hundred and five. 

NINIAN PINKNEY. 



State of Maryland, to wit : 

I certify that his excellency the governour grant- 
ed a Nolli Profequi to Simon Wilmer agreeably to 
the prayer of the foregoing petition and recommen- 
dations, &c. NINIAN PINKNEY. 



You are now to be informed, my fellow-citizens, 
that in confequence of John Gibfon's telling me 
that the honourable Samuel Ringgold had lent his 
oath to Cooke and Wilfon, for the purpofe of pro- 
fecuting me on the 3000$. note, recited in the me- 
morial, and knowing that thofe Tejiimony-Boys would 
not flop fhort of perjury to accomplifh my facrifice, 
I remained in town during the firft week of the 
criminal court, without hearing even a whifper of 
prefentment againft me, and on the Sunday of the 
feflion I crofted the bay, with a merchant of this 
city, with an intention of returning to my family 
on the Thurfday following ; but from adverfe winds, 
I did not reach Baltimore until the next Monday ; 
on my firft view of my family, fenfibility may pre- 
fume, but pen cannot defcribe, my feelings. To 
contemplate an aged mother, whofe thread of life 
is nearly ftretched to the teft flrike of the reel, 
palfied with fear and mifery ; a beloved wife, whofe 



IS 

frame was already borne down with misfortune and 
anxiety, with all the horrours of punifhment diftort- 
ing her countenance, and an only child, maturing 
to that interefting age, when the mind firft expands 
into perceptions of right and wrsng, bedewing my 
cheeks, .under the conflict of affection and trem- 
bling temerity, I fay, father, brother and fon, 
paufe for a moment, and review my agonies, and 
then recoiled that the depravity of the world, fub- 
jecls every man to the fame malicious perfection. 
In this dilemma, my friends and fellow-citizens, 
my bottomry was innocence, which under the gui- 
dance of Providence foon nurtured my fortitude and 
firmnefs, and I embraced the hrfl moment of com- 
pofure to make myfelf acquainted with the nature of 
the indictments ; and notwithstanding, I was in- 
formed that a fenator of the U. S. and a fenator of 
Maryland were my profecutors, I furrendered my- 
felf to the court, and offered my highly refpectable 
friends, Levi Rolling fvvorth and Benjamin Wil- 
liams, Efqrs. as my cognizance bail* — and then de- 
manded an immediate trial, which the court po- 
litely indulged me with during the recefs of the 
term. All this form being fettled, public indigna- 
tion began to ebb down againft my perfecutors — 
which circumftance rendered it neceffary to fubfii- 
tute fome other plan for my deftruclion. On the 
arrival of John Gibfon, one of the banditti, after 
caucufing with Cooke and Wilfon, they at laft 
determined to facrifice me by affaffination ; but 
this fanguinary act was configned to the agency of 
a younger brother of Walter Wilfon, fo that if my 
murder had been effected, he would have efcaped 
punifhment. On the Tuefday evening previous to 

* L, H. was a grand juror. 



14 

the Friday of my trial, I went to the coffee- houfe 
at the ufual hour \ where I difcovered the paltroon, 
with a large club in his hand ; but as I had not 
fpoken to him for 12 months, and not a word had 
that evening efcaped me refpe&i ng any of his pre- 
cious family, I prefumed, that he only meant per- 
fonal defence ; after reading the papers, &c« I re- 
tired to the bar-room, where I found John Gibfon, 
who foon after left the bar, obferving, that if any 
perfon enquired for him, that he would be found 
in his own room ; I think he had not retired more 
than r$ minutes, and while I was in converfation 
with feveral gentlemen, and feated with my back 
expofed to the bar-room door, I was levelled to the 
floor with a bludgeon, without knowing who di- 
rected it. The ftroke was received on my head, 
and on my wheeling round, I perceived my afTailin 
with his bludgeon again fufpended over my head^ 
and the elevation of my left hand to fave my life, 
received the fecond blow acrofs the upper joints of 
my hand; which will make me a cripple during 
life* Such a fpeclacle, from wound and blood, as 
I exhibited, (lands unrivalled in the annals of out- 
rage. There again, I was compelled to prefent 
myfelf to my unfortunate family, with magnified 
injury and infult ; and while the furgeon was dref- 
fing the contufion on my head, in the bar-room, I 
heard John Gibfon, exultingly expreffing his glad- 
nefs ; which confirms my belief, that he had been 
acceffary to the intended murder. James Williams, 
Efq. of Annapolis, witnelTed my fituation and 
knows John Gibfon was there- I fay, my fellow - 
citizens, the man that will, with premeditation, 
fubftantiate calumny, by the fanctity of an oath, 
for the deftru&ion of the fair fame of his fellow 



15 

man, will contemplate murder as a fecondary con> 
fideration. 

I feel confident that the preceding teltimonials 
of character, in addition to the following certifi- 
cates and oath, will remove that public prejudice 
which has been cultivated by exparte lay fo. Af- 
ter all thofe charges have been controverted with 
honour and firmnefs, a novel currency of detraction 
is iffued by John Gibfon, as the offspring of a cer- 
tain Henry Ward, which in toto I proclaim as a lie, 
hatched bv malice and hovered by villainy. Can 
any man who knows me fuppofe, that if vice fo far 
predominated in my mind, as to fan&ion the corn- 
miiTion of a crime, that I would acknowledge the 
act to fuch a thing, as that which bears the name of 
Henry Ward ? No, my friends, notwithstanding 
his pretenfions to noble defcent, the fifth fon of Sir 
Gregory Page Turner's fecond butler, would not 
be the thing of my confidence , but as this thing 
has volunteered to torture and extend my difirefs, 
i was compelled to notice him. 



(No. l.) 
Annapolis January 3, 1804, 
Sir, 

I am juft able to write, but make a bad hand 
of it, being crippled in both hands and feet, by an 
atack of the gout laft week ; though I am much bet- 
ter. Mr. Bennet is purchafmg corn for me, and I 
fnall want the ufe of about S2000 for 60 days, and 
a renewal for $1000 of it at the expiration of that 
time for 60 days more ; can you get fome of ray 
friends to endorfe for me ? I mail enclofe you a 
note, and wifh the money early next week. Let 
Matthews, Ellicot and Strieker, know the ufe it is 
for. You know nothing but fome occafion of the 



18 

fort takes me to the bank. I have had made for me 
confiderable contra&s, and wifh to begin to load a 
veffel or two ; will you fend me a flatement of our 
old account before we begin a long new one? Any 
account refpe&ing corn you can give me will oblige. 
I mud endeavour to be on the Eaftern fhore next 
week, but if not able fhall tranfmit the money to 
my agent there, 

I am, Dear Sir, very fmcerely, your friend, 

JOHN GIBSON. 

P, S. Should I be able, I think; I fhall venture 
up myfelf. Write me per poll or packet, which 
ever comes firft. 

(No- 2.) 

Sir, 

As I find the banks are not difpofed to in- 
creafe their accommodations, therefore wifh, if 
poflible, for you to raife me $2000 from fome friend 
of yours, on the beft poflible terms, and in lieu of 
your note to me retain mine to you as a collateral 
fecurity. Send me the money by all means per 
Monday's mail to Annapolis, as it is required to 
fulfil corn contracts, the fales of which are to pafs 
through your hands. 

With much refpecl:, yours fmcerely, 

JOHN GIBSON. 
February 3, 1804* 



I certify that the note figned by John Gibfon for 
$2000 was never feen by Mr. S. Wilmer whilft in 
my poffeiTion, until after the prefentments againft 
him, and that the firft time I mewed it to him, he 
brought with him and exhibited to me the letters 
No. 1 and 2, figned John Gibfon, fince which the 



17 
faid letters ever have been, and ftill are in my pof. 
feffion. F. PRICE. 

P. S. Mr. Wilmer fele&ed the faid letters from 
a number of others which he brought with him at 
the time. 

January 18, 1805. 

Cash 500 

Ditto 1520 

Commission 10... 50 

Discount 66... 15 

Ditto paid J. M'Cormick for loan of 500 1 

Cash 2. ..35 

$2100. ..00 

Amount of S. Wilmer's note in favour of John 
Gibfon, at 60 days from this day. 

THOS. BARKLIE. 

1 $t h February, 1804. 

I hereby certify that a letter (igned by John Gib- 
fon, and marked No. 2, and endorfed by F. Price, 
dated on the 1 8 ch February, 1804, was on or about 
the 18th of February, 1804, delivered to me by 
Simon Wilmer, to juftify the above negotiation — ■ 
and remained in my pofTeilion until after the in- 
dictments were preferred againft faid Wilmer. 

THOS. BARKLIE, Broker. 
Baltimore, 15th January, 1805. 

The letters in the hands of Frederick Price, Efq. 
marked No- 1 and 2, and figned by Mr. John Gib- 
fon, are his own letters, and his fignature, in my 
belief* Given under my hand this 15th January, 
1805. 

JOSEPH REDGRAVE, 
c 



13 

Baltimore County , to wit : J an * 1 5? .1805. 

Then came Simon Wilmer before me one of ths 
jaftices of the peace for the city and county afore- 
faid, and made oath that the letters No. 1 and 2, 
which are referred to by Frederick Price, Efq, are 
the original letters of * John Gibfon, and that the 
note alfo in the pofleflion of Mr. Price for $2000 
was received with the January letter from John 
Gibfon, and the faid deponent further fwears that 
the faid note is John Gibfon's hand writing except 
endorfements and date. 

Wm. DUNCAN. 



Baltimore, January 8, 1805. 
Dear Sir, 

Some information which has accidently reached 
me here, occafions this addrefs. It has been inti- 
mated to me that thofe who conceive themfelves in- 
jured by Mr. Wilmer, are endeavouring to prevent 
his obtaining the benefit of an act of insolvency. 

To you it is unneceflary for me to obferve, that 
the legiflature have uniformly refufed to inveftigate 
allegations of fraud ; and upon a principle which 
mufl be confidered, by every rational man, as juft 
and proper. The chancery court is the proper tri- 
bunal to examine all cafes of this nature.. ..And be- 
fore that tribunal Mr. Wilmer will be prepared to 
meet his accufers. I prefume it is known to you 
that all the prefentments for forgery on which he 
has been tried here, have ended in air; have only 
ferved to evince his innocence, and to fatisfy rhe 
by-flanders that they were the mod unfounded that 
were ever inftituted, 

Ij;i& to be hoped that the legiflature will adhere 
to the principle which has always governed in fi mi- 



19 
Iar cafes. There can be no good reafon for Tingling 
out an individual, who, for near 40 years has fup- 
ported a character for integrity, which has been un- 
itained. This is the firft inflance in which it has 
been questioned — and ilfrhe afks is, to have a fair 
chance of confronting his accufers. Every man who 
knows Mr. Wilmer, can teftify as to his integrity 
and ufefulnefs, ever fince his arrival to manhood. 
To diftinguim his cafe from that of thoufands of 
others, would, it appears to me, be doing an ad of 
injuitice. To you i am perfuaded it is unnecessa- 
ry to enlarge — indeed I cannot, as the ftage is wait- 
ing. 

You will excufe this hafty fcrawl, from one who 
has the honour to be, with refpect and eiteem, your 
obedient fervt. 

G. DUVAL. 
To J. Montgomery, Esq. 



In addition to the above facts it is to be remem- 
bered, that I published my palTage of John Gibfon's 
note* to Nathan Tyfon as a collateral fecurity. — 
which mull demonltrate to the world that no poffi- 
ble crime can attach to me with refped to the note ; 
for I mould certainly have been the lait perfon to 
have furnifhed evidence to convict myfelf. It is alfo 
known that N?than Tyfon did fwear to the grand 
jury, that when he received the note from me he 
announced his polTellion of it to John Gibfon, and 
that he allured him that it would be provided for at 
maturity — and never till the echo of forgery began 
to implicate my character, did John Gibfon make 
exception to the note, and then it was in the fol. 

* John Gibson did owe me nearly the amount of that note, 
when it was passed to Nathan Tyson j whicn money he has not 
yet paid. 



20 
lowing manner, and in the prefence of my family, 
merely to increafe their mifery. " I will fwear that 
" it is neither Wilmer's writing nor mine, and he 
" believed Tyfon and Pratt had forged the fame for 
" the purpofe of facrificijg Wilmcr." This Was 
the language of John Gibfon, which at the <noment 
had nearly killed my wife. It will be afked how 
the note came to be dated later than his letter in 
February ? — For this plain reafon— the certainty of 
its negociation was not afcertained, and it was pay- 
able 60 days after date. John Gibfon has fent me 
his name for a note which I have filled up in my 
own hand writing — and at one time my clerk filled 
up a note for him. It will be afked, what was the 
reafon John Gibfcn's note was not fhaved inltead 
of the S2100 note — for this pofitive fad—as payer, 
he had no credit even among (havers, and I was 
compelled to advance my own difcredit to procure 
him money : with gratitude he has remunerated my 
friendfhip. I mud hope the publick will determine 
how far this would-be- councillor is qualified for the 
cafhierfhip of the Farmers' Bank, when he does not 
know his own hand- writing. 

Mr. Duval's letter to John Hammond, Efq. will 
teftify unceafing friendfhip, implicit confidence in 
my integrity, and the elevation of principle 
-cbove ex-parte fay fo. Mr. Duval* on his arrival 
in this city, did not Jhrink from his accuftomed civil- 
ities, but vifited me as ufual, and profefied his be- 
lief in my innocence, againft the calumnies which 
malice had circulated againft me : and after invefti- 
gating my conduct through town, he fent me the 
foregoing letter, and alfo one to John Johnfon, Efq. 

Mr. Duval in his letter mentions my ufefulnefs 
to the community, which I have the prefumption to 
confirm. Have I not received from the bank of 



21 

Baltimore within three years, difcounts at my own 
rifk, to the amount of % 246,000 for the benefit of 
the agricultural interest, in order to fortify the 
farmer againft the monied influence of this city ? 
Kas not this accommqgjgipn frequently created a£f 
market • for grain, when cnterprize has been 
lulled to fupinenefs from the difficulty of obtaining 
money ? For this fact I refer my readers to Andrew 
Ellicot, Efq. 

After all this, can the legislature confign me to 
eternal beggary and bondage, without even giving 
me a hearing ? 'Tis impoflible. — The talents and 
wifdom I faw difplayed in the houfe of reprefenta- 
tives laft Friday, muft be mingled with mercy. It 
is alfo rumoured that I have hidden treafure ; which 
I mod pofitively allure my fellow-citizens is a ground, 
lefs charge, i he gentlemen whofe fignatures or- 
nament this work would fooner fever their hands 
from their arms than to patronize fraud — and my 
lift of names could have embraced every refpeclable 
character in the directory, if it had been necelfary. 
No, my friends and fellow-citizens, when it is dis- 
covered, that I do polfefs, or have misappropriated 
one dollar, to the injufy of my creditors, I hope to 
be disfranchised from the rights of man. 

I hope no criticifms will be paffed on my lan- 
guage, for I wi(h it to be known that my School 
days embraced that period, when the preceptors of 
fcience were Soldiers, and before thofe patriots re- 
fumed their clafhcal duties, I was compelled to 
adopt, uneducated, a profeffion for my future 
maintenance, 

1 will now offer my flrft trial to the reflection of 
the publick. From the indictment and language of 
Mr. Wright's letter I hope my readers will determine 



^2 

how far Robert Cooke fwore before the grand jury, 
and what authority he had derived from that hon- 
ourable gentleman, to juflify the profecution. I 
prefume Mr. Wright was under the impremon that 
both notes to which his^Xlalliided were negociat- 
ed ; but the tranfcript of the following "note will 
ihew that the original is in my poifeffion, has never 
been dated, and of courfe never performed a bank 
function. 

Extract of a letttr from Rphert Wright to mc$ dated 

glh October ; 1801. 
c * My Dear Sir, 

The Col. fays he fhall be over, but if he does 
not, Harris will oblige me by renewing the note 
for the balance, which I will pay in the time — by 
uling my name, which, as my attorney, I author- 
ize you to ufe. The Tobacco money is fubjecl: 
to the directions of Mr. James, Scott. 

I am, sir, with the moil fincere conliderations of 
refpect, your's, 

ROBERT WRIGHT." 

From the fame. 

^ Chejler Town, 15th June, 1802. 

My Dear Sir, 

I thank you for your very polite attention to 
my bank account ; which 1 will pay at *he next 
time, unlefs fome untoward circumftance prevents. 
I enclofe my note, and a letter to Mr. 

Your's, with compliments to your lady, 

ROBERT WRIGHT." 



38 

From the fame. 

" Chefter Town, 24th June, 1802. 
My Dear Sir, 

Nothing but an opinion that the damp aft had 
been repealed, fhould have involved me in this trou- 
ble, and you in fo much ; — -but fuch as fhall be 
gratefully compenfated. 1 haften to enclofe the 
note — and to thank you for your diredion to my 
bufinefs in bank. 

Your's, 

R. WRIGHT," 

" Sixty days after date, I promife to pay to Si- 
mon Wilmer of Edward, Baltimore, the fum of 
four hundred and fix dollars — for value received. 
In witnefs my hand, this twenty day of June, 
1802. ROBERT WRIGHT." 

Baltimore County, to wit : 

The jurors for the ftate of Maryland, for the 
body of Baltimore county, upon their oath do pre- 
fent, that Simon Wilmer late of the county afore - 
faid, gentleman, on the flrft day of July in the 
year of our Lord one thoufand eight hundred and 
two, at the county aforefaid, had in his pcffefiion one 
promiffory note, figned under the hand of a certain 
Robert Wright, bearing dcte the 17th day of June in 
the year of our Lord one thoufand eight hundred and 
two, by which faid note the faid Wright did pro- 
mife to pay, iixty days after date to the faid Wil- 
mer, by the name of Simon Wilmer of Edw. at 
his counting hcufe, the fum of four hundred dol- 
lars, for value of him received ; and that the faid 
Wilmer contriving and intending, the faid Robert 
Wright, Robert Cooke and Walter Wiifon, felo- 
nioufly to deceive and defraud, on the faid firft day 



24 

of July in the year aforefaid, with force and arms 
at the county aforefaid, wickedly, unlawfully 
and felonioufly, did falfely alter and forge the faid 
promiffory note by interlining between the word 
**■ Edward" and the words "at his counting houfe," 
the following words to wit : " or to his order/' to 
the evil example of all others in the like cafe offend- 
ing.* againft the form of the acl of affembly in fuch 
cafes made and provided, and againfl the peace, 
government and dignity of the date ; and the jurors 
aforefaid upon their oath aforefaid, do further pre- 
fent, that the faid Simon Wilmer contriving and 
intending the faid Robert Wright, and the faid Cooke 
and Wi If on, felonioufly to deceive ?nd defraud on 
the firft day of July, in the year of our Lord one 
thoufand eight hundred and four, with force and 
arms at the county aforefaid, the faid promiffory 
note fo falfely altered and forged as aforefaid, wick- 
edly, falfely, unlawfully, fraudulently and felo- 
nioufly did publifh and alter to the faid Cooke and 
Wilfon, for and as a true promiffory note, Execut- 
ed by the faid Robert Wright, he the faid Wilmer 
at the time of publifhing and altering faid falfe 
and forged promiffory note, there by him in form 
aforefaid, well knowing the faid promiffory note to 
have been falfely altered and forged as aforefaid, 
to the evil example of all others in like cafe offend- 
ing againfl the form of the a£t of affembly, in fuch 
cafe made and provided, and againfl the peace, go- 
vernment and dignity of the (late of Maryland. 

L, MARTIN, Aify.gm. 
of the State of Maryland. 
Witnefses, 

Robert Cooke, } 

Walt.br Wilson. 3 
True. Copy. Wm. GIBSON, Clk. 



23 
TRIAL ON THE FIRST CHARGE. 

On Friday 7th December 1804, I prefented my- 
felf to the court, and was permitted to be feated 
between my faithful attornies John Scott and Thos. 
Kell, efqrs. who after the indiclment was read, 
plead hot guilty of the charges made againft me. 
The attorney general then produced the honourable 
Robert Wright's note, on which the indictment was 
founded; and as I requeued my attornies to admit 
that I had interlined the words " to order," and 
alfo that I had paffed faid note to Cooke & Wilfon, 
the teftimony in the cafe was called forth by the 
attorney general. 

Firft witnefs, Robert Cooke. 

AtU Gen. Mr. Cooke, relate what you know re- 
ipecting this note. 

Robert Cooke. When the difTolution of the co- 
partnermip took place, Mr. Wilmer gave us this 
note as a payment, or fecurity, for money we had 
advanced for him ; and en prefenting faid . note to 
Wright, he faid- — (here my attornies immediately 
informed him that what W. had told him was inad- 
mirTab!e. > ) 

Att. Gen. Mr. Cooke, relate to the court and 
jury, what you yourfelf know of this note. 

Cooke. How can I tell unlefs the gentlemen will 
Jet me fpeak ? 

Atu Gen, Pray, Mr. Cooke, did the prifoner alter 
this note in your prefence ? 

Cooke. No. 

John Scott then afked him if I did not give my 
own notes, payable by inftalment, for the whole 
fum then due, independent of the Collateral fecu- 
rity ? 

Cooke ; Yes. 

D 



This cogent witnefs was then permitted to with- 
draw, and Wilfon called forth, 

Att. Gen. What is your name ? 

Wilfon. 

Att. Gen* Then Mr. Wilfon, relate to the court 
and jury what you know of this note- 

Wilfon. I only know, that Mr. Wilmer parTed us 
this note in payment, or fecurity ; all the reft of the 
information 1 received from Mr. Cooke* 

Att* Gen. Then you did dot fee the prifoner in- 
terline the words " to order"? 

Wilfon. No, I did not. 

This grand-jury hero being difmiiTed, my wit- 
nefs, Dr. Harris, was called forth. 

Scott. Do&or Harris, will you pleafe to relate 
to the court and jury, what you know of the tranf- 
a&ions between the honourable R. Wright and 
Mr. Wilmer? 

Dr. Harris. Mr. Wilmer and myfelf have been in 
the habit of endorfing Mr. Wright's negotiable pa- 
per for feveral years, and for different fums. 

Scott. Dr. Harris, did Mr. Wright always fend his 
notes with that formality which the bank requires ? 

Dr. H. No ; he fometimes fent his notes to Mr. 
Wilmer in blank, except as to fignature ; at other 
times blank as to date and fum ; and frequently 
informal, inafmuch as the words " to order" 
were not expreffed : which the retired notes now 
before the court will teftify. 

Att. Gen. Dr. Harris, during this long accom- 
modation granted by you and the prifoner to Mr. 
Wright, did you ever hear him fay what autho- 
rity he had delegated to the prifoner to juftify his 
filling up and dating his notes, as circumftances 
might require ? 



27 

Dr. H. I never did particularly. I endorfed as 
the friend of W. and W. endorsed as his agent, 
and always prepared for the notes at maturity. 

Alt. Gen. Then you never heard him fay that the 
prifoner had abufed his confidence, in altering or 
filling up his notes. 

Dr. H. Never. 

William Wilfon, Efq. a refpe&able citizen, and 
a director of the bank of Baltimore, from its origin, 
was then called forth. 

Mr. Kell. Mr. Wilfon, does the bank of Baltimore 
require the words " to order" to make a note ne- 
gotiable ? 

Wilfon. Yes. 

Kell. Did you ever fee any of Wright's paper 
with Harris and Wilmer as endorfers, offered for 
difcount I 

Wilfon. Very often. Wright's note was almoft 
uniformly offered without the words " to order ;" 
and whenever the directors obferved the infor- 
mality, the notes were fent to Wilmer, by one of 
the bank officers as the laft endorfer, to interline 
the words " to order." 

Att. Gen. Mr. Wilfon, I know very little of 
bank forms, and therefore afk whether a note can 
be difcounted without the words " to order"? 

Wilfon. In country paper the endorfers are the 
firft confideration ; but if any informality is dis- 
covered in the face of the note it is fent for inter- 
lineations to the laft endorfer. 

The teftimony being gone through, the attorney 
general fummed up the evidence, and illuftrated 
fully the law in fuch cafes provided. 

Mr. Scott, then rofe with all that fympathy that 
characterizes his philanthrophy, and addreffed him- 
felf to the feelings of the jury by dating, that I had 



S3 
grown up with him from a boy to manhood^ and 
that the very idea of criminal profecution againft my 
character almofi arretted his utterance. He would 
therefore folicit his colleague, who was highly 
competent to the tafk, to exhibit fuch law as was 
applicable to the cafe, and which he was well af- 
fured would eftablifh my innocence in the minds 
of the jury. 

Mr. Kell then rofe with his ufual perfpicuity, and 
eftablifhed by law and fad, that, fo far from my 
moral character being implicated, the teflimony 
offered on the part of rhe ft ate did not even efta* 
blifh commercial impropriety. 

The cafe was then fubmitted to the jury, whofe 
feelings had during the inveftigation manifeiled 
through their countenances my innocence; and 
without retiring from the box they proclaimed a 
verdict in my favour. 

I now falute the correfpondence of the honour- 
able Samuel Ringgold. I regret that it has been 
fo voluminous ; but my reader mud pardon fuch ex- 
tracts as are calculated to evince my innocence, 
ag mil the cruel charges which that gentleman has 
fo abundantly directed to the accomplifhrnent of my 
deftruction. 



Dear Sir. 



Philadelphia^ February ijth, 1801. 



Having feveral large fums of money to pay in 
the months of April and May, and the uncertainty 
of collecting my rents Sue the ift April, I had de- 
termined if I mould be difappointed in the collec- 
tion from among my tenants, to have recourfe to 
fome of the banks in Baltimore. It was with that 
view I wrote to my brother Thomas^ to enquire of 



29 
general Smith whether he thought I could be ac- 
commodated at any of the banks for fuch fum as 
I might want, and to requeft him to be one of my 
endorfers.* My brother wrote me that I could get 
the accommodation that I mould want and that the 
general would endorfe my paper for me ; he alio 
faid he had fpoke to you on the fubjecl:, and that 
you would procure a fecond endorfer, and would 
attend to the bufinefs for me ; fince which I have 
received your letter of the ioth inftant, expreffing 
the fame fentiments as my brother's, for which 1 
muii beg you will accept my warmeft acknow- 
ledgments. I wrote my brother to let the bufinefs 
reft until I could go to your city myfelf, which will 
be about the jft of March, when I could make fuch 
arrangements with the banks, general Smith and 
yourfelf as may be neceffary. Accept my refpeds. 
I am your friend, 

SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 



Philadelphia, May 15th, 1801. 
Dear Sir, 

I hope you have fucceeded in negotiating my pa- 
per, it will be a great difappointment to me if you 
have not, but taking it for granted that you have, 
I will thank you to difpofe of it in the following 
manner: remit me in Philadelphia notes 8 1,400, 
pay my brother Thomas $ 100, take up the two 
notes of g 1,000 each you got difcounted, and hold 
the balance fubjecl: to my order, unlefs Mr. John 
Mafon, prefident of the bank of Columbia, mould 
draw on you for $ 500, (which will be the balance 
of the S 4,000) or by letter requeft you to remit it 
to him to take up my note in that bank. I mall be 

* It is to be recollected, that general Smith never did en- 
dorse for Mr. Ringgold. 



30 

glad to hear from you in a few days, as I cannot 
leave this place for New York until I receive the 
money fiom you. Let me now make my acknow- 
ledgments to you for your kind and polite atten- 
tion to me, (and your wifh to ferve me in this bu- 
finefs) and muft beg that you will always confider 
me as a friend who you may at all times make ufe of 
whenever you may Hand in need. 

I am your obliged friend, 

SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 



Philadelphia, May 21JI , 1801. 
Dear Sir, 

I received your kind and attentive letter this day 
by the mail, and obferve the contents ; I have been 
endeavouring to procure the money for a draft on 
you at fight, but without effecl:. This will I am 
afraid detain me for a few days and prevent me from 
going to New York as foon as I wifhed. I will 
lhank you to enclofe me the $ 1,000 by the firfl 
mail that leaves Baltimore for this place after your 
receipt of this, in notes of the Branch Bank or the 
Bank of Baltimore. My compliments to your 
family. I will write you again in a few days, I am 
in hafte. Do fend it by the Monday's mail. 

Your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



New-York, June 23d. 1801. 
Dear Sir, . 

I wrote fome time paft from Philadelphia, ac- 
knowledging the receipt of the $1000 by the mail, 
and requefting to hear from you ; but from your 
not anfwering my two laft letters I did imagine you 
were abfent from Baltimore. I wrote to my brother 



SI 

Thomas to call on you and to communicate the fub- 
ftance of my letter to him, to you, requefting you 
would fend me if you could procure it, 4 or £500 
to this place or to Philadelphia, and wifhed to know 
when the 4 notes would become due, that I might 
forward my note in due time. — Any money that 
you could advance or raife fhall be punctually re- 
turned the 1 ft of Auguft, I cannot get home with- 
out your kind afliftance in procuring and forward- 
ing me the above fum. The expenfes of traveling 
are beyond any thing in this part of the world. I 
fhall be in Philadelphia on the -a-th of July, and leave 
it on the 4th or 5th at furtheft, provided you can 
forward me the amount requefled, on the other 
fide, make the remittance in branch Bank notes of 
the office at Baltimore ; I hope you will excufe my 
making the above requeft, and that an opportunity 
may before long offer, when I may have it in my 
power to ferve you. 

Be particular in faying when the notes muft be re- 
newed, and if neceflary I will pafs through Balti- 
more, otherwife I will take the fhort road by Lan- 
cafter, and vifit your city fhortly after 1 get home. 
My beft refpects to your lady and family, and be- 
lieve me Your friend, 

SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 



Philadelphia, July 9, 1801. 
Dear Sir 9 

I enclofe you two blank notes, which I will 
thank you to get my friend Mr. M'Creery to in- 
dorfe, each blank, you will fill up the fum and date 
as neceffary. In hafte, 

Your friend, 

S, RINGGOLD. 
Two notes of 81000, one blank. 



32 

Fountain Rock) Auguft 25th, 1801* 
Dear Sir, 

I will thank you to write me by the return of 
the pod, and fay when the notes are due, and how 
many blank notes I fhall inclofe you by, the next 
poft. With compliments to your good lady and 
family, I am your friend and ferv't. 

S. RINGGOLD. 



F cunt ain Rock Sept. 1, 1801. 
My Dear Sir, 

I received your letter by the mail in due courfe, 
mine by the fame mail mull: be in your pofTefTion be- 
fore this, giving you my reafons why I did not meet 
you in Baltimore at the time appointed, which I 
hope were fatisfa&ory to you ; it will be impoffible 
for me to leave home until after the election, which 
takes place on the 7th inft. without my facrificing 
the good opinion of my fellow-citizens, and per- 
haps facrificing the election by my abfence. You 
fay Mr. M'Creery declines endorfmg my paper any 
longer, did he give you any reafon for declining 
his friendly aid ? I have written to him on the fub- 
je&, which letter is inclofed (together with 3 notes 
of 1000 each) begging his friendly aid for once more, 
when I can from my own refources take up all the 
notes as they come round. Should he decline indorf- 
ing them again,* I hope you will write me by the 
return of the pod, it does not clofe until Friday at 
12 o'clock, and if it mould not turn out as I wifh, I 
can be down on Wednefday the 9th inft. which 
will be time enough to make other arangements for 
the paper. Your friend, and ferv't. 

S, RINGGOLD. 

* Mr. M'Creery did decline, and then my own signature 
was committed to the ocean of ruin. 



33 
Hagerjlown, Sept. 1, 1801. 
Dear Sir, 

I intended being in Baltimore feveral weeks paft 
for the purpofe of making further arrangements ref- 
pecling my paper coming due in a few days, which 
you were fo obliging as to endorfe for me, but was 
prevented by the indi fpofition of one of mychildren 
at Bath. 

The election for the electors of the Senate, for 
which I am a candidate, will prevent me from go- 
ing down for a few days, and before the notes be- 
come due ; may I again requeft that you will con- 
tinue the endorfement, and if not perfectly agree* 
able to continue longer, when I come down I will, 
I aifure you take them all up and not again be trou- 
blefome to you — I muft beg you will make my bed 
refpects to your lady, and coniider me a friend who 
you may always command. 

I am refpectfully your's, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Annapolis^ OBoher $th 1801. 
My Dear Sir, 

I this moment received your letter and packages 
by capt. Barber — Mr. Scott going up gives me an 
opportunity of inclofing the notes mentioned in 
your letters viz : 6 blank notes which you will fill 
up. — Mr. J. T. Mafon will be here on Monday next 
when all the arrangements will be made to meet the 
payment of the note to Mr. Cooke, I cannot find 
words ftrong enough to communicate my gratitude 
to you for this additional favour, you have relieved 
my mind, and feeling more than I can defcribe. I 
will to-day try and make the arrangement with Mr, 
M'Culloch and will write you by the poft to*mor- 



34 

row. — Have yoa received any more money from the 
Eaftern Shore? I wifh you would write to Price &c 
Hance, &c. and tell them the neceffity of paying the 
bonds off immediately. Did you receive any money 
by the mail from George Town ? I will write you 
more fully by the poft this evening. Did old Chew 
pay you the draft ? I am dear Sir, 

Your fincere friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Rock, Oct. 6th i8oi 9 
Dear Sir i 

I fend the wagon down with 12 barrels of flour 
which I hope will pafs for fuperfine. I fhall con- 
tinue to fend once a week my own wagon, and oc 
cafionally as often other wagons as I can get them ; 
they are fcarce at prefent, our feeding not being 
yet over — I will thank you to fend the things I 
mentioned in the memorandum fent you by Tom the. 
morning I left Baltimore, and two barrels of good 
Pork. When at the city of Wafhington I called on 
feveral of the dire&ors who promifed me that I 
could be accommodated with any fum not exceeding 
8 6ooo for 6o days and a renewal as long as the 
Bank is in operation, which they think will not be 
long after the meeting of Congrefs, they think the 
new Office of Difcount and Depofit will interfere 
with the Bank. Will you try and make the nego- 
tiations at bank, to take up my paper when it again 
comes round. I am fincerely your's. 

S. RINGGOLD. 



(COPY.) 
Fountain Rock, October 26th, 1801. 
Some time fince I received a letter from Mr. 
William Cooke of your city, faying that he had 



35 

orders to ifiue an execution againft me at the fuit of 
Mifs Cadwallader, to the amount of three thoufand 
four hundred dollars ; but upon my promife to pay 
the money at the court the 5th of next month, no 
procefs fhould iflue againft me. I have money pro- 
mifed me from the Bank of Columbia on the 30th 
inft. If I fhould fail there, 1 mult through you raife 
the money, let what will be the facrifice, for to my 
aftonifhment the duputy Marfhal ferved on me an 
execution for the above amount, and I have patted 
him my word to pay the money or be there in per- 
fon on the 4th of November. I have Mr. Cooke's 
letter making me the above promife, he has behav- 
ed to me like a damn'd rafcal, and muft attribute it 
to federal revenge ; you, I am fure knowing my 
fituation, will render me all the fervice in your 
power, and if poffible make arrangements for to 
meet the payment, fhould I fail in George-Town. 
You will excufe my frequent applications in that 
way, I hope the time will come, when I can ferve 
you in a more agreeable way. 

Your friend, 

S. R.* 

Annapolis Nov. zd, 1801. 
My Dear Sir, 

I wrote you a long letter from Frederick by my 
wagon, flating to you the fituation I was placed in 
by Mr. Cooke, and telling you my expectations in 
the City of Wafhington from the Bank there. Mr. 
Mafon has advifed me from making my application 
to the Bank of Columbia for a few weeks, as the 
Bank in confequence of Hanfon's publication, have 
determined to call in all the money due them and to 
lay the books before the ftockholders j that if I 

* Testimony admitted in c ourt. 






3(5 

mould fail there, the Office of Difcount and Depofit 
will be in operation, and that he being one of the 
directors will infure the difcount of my paper ; I 
mention thofe circumftances to convince you of the 
certainty of meeting in time, any arrangements you 
may make with Mr. Cooke or the Mar(hal in my 
behalf; perhaps Mr. Cooke will take my note with 
your endorfement at 60 days for the amount. Any 
engagements you may enter in for me you may reft affur* 
ed Jhall be complied with as a man of honour •, let the 
corfequences be what they jnay, let the facrifice be what 
it will — If you pafs your own note at 60 days, or 
my note with your endorfement at 60 days, it will 
certainly be the fame as: the cafli to Mr. Cooke, 
otherwife I will fend you my note on which you 
mufi raife the money on the bed terms you can. 
I have prornifed the marlhal either to appear there 
on Wednesday or to fettle the matter, fome way or 
other, with Mr. Cooke. 

I am fure you will excufe the liberty I take with 
ycu in thus foliciting your afliftance. / mufl con- 
clude by faying, I /hall through life always be at your 
command. Would my publick duty permit I would 
have gone up myfelf. 

I am dear fir, your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Annapolis, Nov. 28M, 1801. 
Dear Sir, 

I have at length arranged that difagreeable bu- 
finefs with Mr. William Ringgold, relative to the 
land fold him by my brother, Mr. Ringgold has 
agreed to give a releafe, to take alignment of the 
debt due from Stoops, and my brother is to pay the 
money to you immediately on his getting to Balti- 
more j he fays the ^money is in the hands of Mr. 



fiofley. My brother Tench wrote to me from, 
your city on his road home, that he had feen Price, 
and that in ten days he would pay you on account of 
his father's bond, which I left in your hands £1000* 
This money Tench and Thomas agree fhail be ap- 
plied to my engagements, the ;£4-3o, which Tho- 
mas will pay you, muft go to pay a debt of Tho- 
mas's due to Mr. Hellen. Mr. W. Dorfey has the 
bufinefs in his hands. Since I wrote you laft Mr. 
Mafon has been here, he aflfures me that I mail not 
be difappointed in my expectations from the Bank 
of Columbia, he left here a few days paft, and 
promifed to make the arrangement for me imme- 
diately on his getting down. The $750 I expected 
from there I have not yet received, the gentleman 
who the draft was on, promifes to fend it to me by the 
next poft. I will thank you to write me in anfwer 
to this, and enclofe a ftatement of my account, 
that I may at one view fee how much I mall want 
from Columbia, to releafe me from my engage- 
ments at Baltimore ; I am afraid my flour got to 
market in bad feafon. Mr. Compton writes me 
he fent four loads down laft week, I hope you have 
not yet fold them. I mail truft it to your difcre- 
tion, knowing your prudence and zeal* I have to 
requefl you to inform me whether Mr. Roberts has 
paid any thing on his bond, or if you have heard 
from him on the fubject. You muft make your- 
felf perfectly eafy on the fcore of your engage- 
ments for me ; you fhali not be in any manner in- 
jured or difappointed. I have delayed writing to 
you until I could do it fatisfactorily to yourfelf and 
me. I have nothing new to relate to you in the 
political way, worth your perufal, both Houfes are 
taken up with private bufinefs, except the printer's 
bufinefs. Mr. Martin, of your town has thrown 



38 

Ills friends into an unpleafant fituation, we mall 
I think reje& the refolution in his favour, which 
palled the Houfe of Delegates, it is informal, and 
the principle I think a bad one. We have great 
unanimity in the Senate, and many very valuable men 
in it I atTure, men of flrmnefs and prudence, who 
will always check the views of a few violent leaders 
in the Houfe of Delegates. The bill repealing the 
judiciary of the county courts, will I believe pafs 
the Houfe of Delegates, it will meet with a decided 
oppofition in this body, the principle is deftructive 
to civil liberty ; if fyftems are to be changed, or ra- 
ther repealed merely to get rid of obnoxious cha- 
racters to any party, who may be in power, 1 have 
no hefitation in declaring that all honeft men and 
men of abilities will be driven from office in time, 
to mafee way for the needy and weak.* It is my 
wifli to write to you much oftener than I do, but 
my friend you mud take the will for the deed, I 
have lo many betters to anfwer from our county, 
that it almoit occupies all my leifure hours- Make 
my belt refpe&s to your good lady and family, 
I am your fmcere friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 
P. S. call on Mr. W. Dorfey, and get a ftate- 
ment of Mr. flellen's debt againft my brother. 



Annappolis, Dec. 23d, 1801. 

Dear $ir 9 

Your letter was handed me yefterday by Mr. 
Nicholfon, and obferve the contents. I wrote you 
fome time pall requefting you would inform me 
what was the exacl; fum you had engaged to pay 
for me, on account of the judgment to Mr. Cooke. 

* I, deny that all democrats are weak and needy. 



$9 
I fome time pad enclofed you Mr. Galloway's draft 
on Meffrs. Chew and Chefton for £250, I will 
thank you to inform me by the poll: on Friday* how 
you have applied that fum, alfo the money re- 
ceived from Mr. G. Hanfon, and the monies arifing 
from the fale of the flour, and what fum it will be 
neceflary to place in your hands to meet the en- 
gagements of the 4th of next month, I feel much 
diftrefied that you fhould be fo very uneafy on ac- 
count of the engagements you are under for me ; 
you know my intentions, and would never facrifice 
you, let it cod me what it would, and now af- 
fure you on the honour of a man, that you (hall not 
fufFer; the full amount (hall be placed in your hands 
on the id* of January.* You mud not omit wri- 
ting by the mail on Friday, or by the packet. I mall 
go from this to your city the moment the Houfe 
rifes, and will thank you to fpeak to Mr. Evans to 
let me have for my family a good lodging room, 
and a parlour. I fhall then I hope relieve you from 
all your engagements for me. In hade. 
Your obedient fervant, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Frederick Town, October 30M, 1801. 
Dear Sir, 

You will I am fure excufe the liberty I take 
with you in this inftanc£, my fituation is fo unplea- 
fant, and truly didreiling to my feelings,! that 
had it been poffible for me to have left my family, 

* This letter shews my anxiety to be relieved from Mr. 
Kinggold's negotiations ; and notwithstanding he pledges his 
honour, that our accounts shall be ( settled on the 1st of January, 
J 802, I never received a payment to any amount, until Sep- 
tember, 1802, when Mr. Ringgold owed me more than gl 1,000, 
♦n account of which he paid §8000. 

$ His feelings were gratified, and mine persecuted. 



40 

I fhould have been in Baltimore before this, and 
fettled the bufmefs myfelf, / hope you will by fame 
means or other raife the money for me, as much as I am 
diffident in making up, when you hear from me,* let 
the facrifice be what it will, I will pay it cheerfully, 
my notes I will forward from Annappolis. Ifhall to- 
morrow make fome arrangements with the bank 
at Georgetown, if Mr. J. T. Mafon is there ; per- 
haps with what money I fhall be able to fend you 
en from Georgetown, you can make fome arrange- 
ment with Mr. Cooke for fixty days for the bal- 
ance. You will pleafe write me by poft on Monday 
to Annappolis, you fhall hear from me immediate- 
ly on my arrival at Annappolis. 

Believe me your friend, who 
You may always command, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Rock, April 23 d, 1802. 
Dear Sir, 

At the time you were uneafy for fear the notes 
would not arrive in time, I enclofed my brother 
five notes of $2,coo each, with this injunction that 
they were never to appear in market, but to remain 
to relieve the notes now coming due, except he 
could get Mr. Crrter, to difcount them at the bank 
intereft, for twelve months, which he wrote me 
Mr. Carter had offered to do. 

I enclofe you a letter alfo to Mr. J. Chefton, re- 
quefting him once again to endorfe my note or 
notes as they become due, if they will not, Mr. 
W. Lee, of the houfe of Brooks Dillon & Co : 
will, I am your frend, 

S. RINGGOLD, 

* It will be discovered by the Annappolis letter, that no 
money could be raised at Washington. 



41 
Fountain Rock, June ig, 1802. 
Dear Sir, 

I have only time to fay to you in anfwer to your 
letter by the mail laft night, which I this moment 
received, that I will write to a 'friend to endorfe 
the notes to be renewed the 4th of next month, who 
will I think be acceptable to the Bank ; I mall have 
his anfwer at Frederick on Wednefday next. In 
the mean time I have written to my brother to call 
on one or two other friends for the fame purpofe. 
I mall be at Frederick on Wednefday and Thurfday 
next on bulinefs, and fhould 1 not fucceed in pro- 
curing an endorfer I will proceed on to Baltimore. 
I have fome Potowmack fhares which I have written 
to my friend in George-Town to difpofe of and 
remit the money to you, they will amount to 1 1 or 
SI200, 1 have directed him to fell them at all events 
and remit you the proceeds. The behaviour of 
Old Chew* is quite childim, had he a houfe to 
have given a friend a welcome in, I fhould have 
called on him. I mall write to Chefton on the fub- 
je&, not requeuing him to continue his endorfe- 
ment, but merely to let him know that I do not 
implicate him, in placing you and myfeif in an un- 
pleafant fituation. I never in my life had but one 
opinion of old bloody bones, that you can readily 
guefs. To be candid with you, I fee no profped 
of collecting any money from among the tenants 
until after harveft. Believe me your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Reck, July 1802. 
Dear Sir, 

You no doubt are very uneafy at the fituation 
you are thrown into by the conduQ: of my brother, 

* John Chew, Esq. F 



45 

hut'my dear fir you mull be certain that I would 
make any facrifice on earth, before you or my 
other friends, Chew & Chefton, (hall fuffer, I have 
refources I think here fufficient to raife the fum you 
will require for my paper, due in bank, and thofe 
out with your endorsement ; but not wifhing to re- 
ly entirely on them, for fear of a difappointment I 
wrote immediately on the receipt of your letter, to 
my friends in Philadelphia and New- York, dating 
the difagreeable fituation I was thrown into by the 
unjuftifiable conduct of my brother, and have no 
doubt but that I mall from the firft place obtain the 
fum I fhall want. My tenants will get out their 
wheat immediately, and many of them have offered 
to deliver their crops for my ufe by the 4th of Sep- 
tember, which you know will always bring cafh, 
add to this the different fums due from different 
perfons, and the back rents, will I think enable 
me to pay into your hands the fum for which you 
are on my paper, the notes that are protefted will 
be my laft care, my duty is to relieve my endorfers 
in the firft place. You will believe me when I af- 
fure you that I have had many fleeplefs nights fince 
I left Baltimore. 

. I muft beg of you to accept of my thanks for the 
manner in which you communicated the unfortu- 
nate event to me. You may be aflured I fhall not 
reft a moment until you are relieved from your pre- 
fent difagreeable feelings — my whole time and en- 
ergy fhall be conftantly employed to raife the 
money. In hafte, Your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Dear Sir, 

I enclofe you two blank notes to renew the bank 
paper, which I truft will be the laft time you will 



be troubled with bufmefs of this fort on my ac- 
count, as I am determined if I can meet with a 
purchafer, to make fale of as much land as will put 
me above the world ; I think I can get from 40 to 
60 dollars per acre for any of my lands adjoining 
Williarnfport, and am now actually treating with 
a man for 200 acres. I received your letter by the 
mail and as you mentioned, I have written to J. 
Chefton, to endorfe for 60 days more. I wrote to 
my brother to go down and apply to a friend to 
endorfe for me, I have not heard from him iince, 
but find the gentleman went through Hagerftown 
on his way to Carlifle on Saturday laft. Thomas 
muft procure an endorfer, if Chew & Chefton will 
not. He can do it if he is in town. I fhall not 
again be under the neceffity of afking for an endor- 
fer. / feel concerned for the dif agreeable fituation you 
have fo often been placed in on my account, but hope 
I fhall have it in my power to recompence you for 
it. I fhall always remember with gratitude your 
kind and friendly offices. Let me hear from you 
by the return of poft. 

I am fmcerely your's, 

S. RINGGOLD. 






Fountain Rock, Auguft 19, 1802. 
Dear Sir, 

By the mail to-day I received your favour ; I 
can well pardon you for writing fo often on the 
fubject of my paper becoming due ; my friend let 
your fears on that head ceafe, I have effected a fale 
of a tract of land, fay 660 acres at iol. the deeds 
will be executed to-morrow, the payments are 3750I. 
cafh in hand, 1800 in twelve months, the remain- 
der 1062I. in two years with intereit from the date. 
I have delayed anfwering your laft letter until I 



44 

could certainly put you out of the ftate of fufpenfe 
your mind has been in for fome time paft. The 
purchafer is Mr. Thomas O. Williams, of Prince 
George's county, his money is lodged in the Bank 
of Columbia, he gives me his check on that Bank 
for $ lo,oco. I will thank you to fend me by the 
next mail the exact amount due in and out of Bank, 
for which you and my friends Meffrs. Chew and 
Chefton are refponfible. I muft now beg you to 
accept my fmcere thanks for your kind afliftance 
rendered from time to time. I hope it may never 
be your lot to ftand in need ; fhould it ever be the 
cafe, you will always find me ready to come for- 
ward.* I will thank you to communicate the fub- 
ftance of this fcrawl to Meffrs. Chew and Chefton, 
with my thanks. I was determined let the facriflce 
be what it would that my friends mould not fuffer. 
I am much fatigued, but could not think of letting 
the mail again go without relieving your anxiety. t 
My refpecls to your lady and family. 
1 am faithfully yours, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Annapolis, Nov. 24/fA, 1802. 
Dear Sir, 

I had the pleafure of writing to you foon 
sfter my arrival at this place, on the fubject of the 
negotiation with Mr. Pratt, and have anxioufly ex- 
pected your anfwer, I fhould be glad to hear from 
you by the packet on Saturday. A gentleman from 
Baltimore a few days paft informed me that doctor 
Brown, of your city had $ 20,000 in bank, which 
he wifhed to loan on good fecurity for fix per cent. 

* He did come forward, to consign me and mine to igno- 
miny. 

f Witness my anxiety by Mr. Ringgold's own letter. 



45 

I am the more anxious that the loan, on the bonds 
of Mr. Williams, mould be effe&ed immediately 
as I muft in a fhort time, if, that mould fail, raife 
a fum of money on my own paper, which I am 
told I can eafdy do at the Bank of Maryland, to 
meet fome engagements I am under ; I mould cer- 
tainly prefer the former mode even if a greater fa- 
criiice was to be made, but do fuppofe the bonds 
could be negotiated at fix per cent. If you mould 
fail with private gentlemen, fuppofe you were to* 
try the Bank of Maryland, I have no doubt but 
that they would negotiate the bond, Mr. Williams 
is known to Mr. Cooke. I really feel a degree of 
uneafinefs at being obliged to call on you to ad- 
vance any money for me, being fearful it may be 
inconvenient to you, to trefspafs any further on 
your friendmip, and for this and other reafons 
above flated, would wifh the bonds negotiated ; in 
the mean time, I mud beg you to fend me a few 
hundred dollars, for my current expenses here, by 
Mr Barber on Saturday. I intend going to George- 
town on Sunday, but cannot go if I do not hear 
from you, you muft excufe this fcrawl it is written 
at a late hour, after fpending the dav wifh Mr. 
Lloyd. My refpects to Mrs. Wilmer and ycur fa- 
mily, and believe me with fmcere regard, 
Your friend, 

S RINGGOLD, 

Annapolis, Dec. 2gih 9 1802. 

Dear Sir, 

I am really furprifed at the conduct of Mr. Heath, 
and the gentlemen in Delaware, they have treated 
my brother, and felf extremely ill. Mr. Vandyke, 
at New-Caftle, wrote my brother about a month 
ago, that the money fhould be lodged in the Bank 



46 

of Delaware by the time promifed, fubje&ed to 
your order. I wifh you would write to the cafhier 
of that bank, and know if any has been depofited 
there, fubjecl to your or my draft. It is hard that 
a perfon who wants money as much as I have for 
fome time mould at the moment he gets command 
of a little be obliged to apply to the ules of another, 
I fhall want fome cam to clear me out here, and 
will write' you in a few. days to what amount. 

Your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Dear Sir, 

I had thepleafure of receiving your favour of yef- 
terday by mail, enclofed you will find my note pay- 
able to you for g 2,500, at fixty days. I fhall leave 
home fometime next week on my way to your city, 
when I hope to fee you, and will prevent the ne- 
cefllty of fending on the account of monies paid 
to Mr. Scott, and I hope Mr. HolHngfworth will have 
no objection to endorfe again. My refpects to him. 
I have taken the liberty of drawing on you in fa- 
vour of MefTrs. For man and Keller, of Hager's- 
town for $ 300, which you will pleafe honour. — 
The funds will be in hands before the draft comes 
due from Delaware, as I am allured the money is 
received by Mr. Johns, of New-Caflle by Mr. Van- 
dyke. You muft excufe this (hort letter as it is 
T2 o'clock, and I am much fatitigued, being en- 
gaged all day with the millwrights. I cannot con- 
clude without requeuing my and Mrs. Ringgold's 
beft refpects and wifhes being prefented to your 
good lady and family. 

With fincere regard, 
Your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



4*7 
Fountain Rock, Augufl izth 9 1803. 
Dear Sir, 

I enclofe you a note for $2000 to renew the note 
due to Mr. Ward, on the 17th inft. I would have 
filled up the blank but did not recoiled whether the 
lafl note given was made payable to you or him, 
you can arrange it properly. Mr. Stables is here 
with me, and will go off in the morning, he has 
finifhed his work, and much to my fatisfa&ion. I 
have once more ventured to draw on you in favour 
of Mr. Stables. The late rains, and the low price 
of wheat has induced me to keep my crop of old, 
and my new wheat for a few weeks longer. I hope 
you will honour this draft, the proceeds mall be in 
your hands before it is due to take it up. You 
fome time pad wrote me you wimed me to decline 
my negotiations in and out of bank, and mentioned 
the inconvenience you were under by my negotia- 
tions, and that you were in advance for me — I 
will thank you my dear fir, to make me acquainted 
as foon as poflible with the amount of the advance, 
or rather if convenient furnifh my account, and I 
will take care to difcharge it very foon. My friend 
Mr. Levy Hollingfworth, need be under no appre- 
henfions as to the retirement of my paper ; if you 
and him mould think it inconvenient to renew it 
again you know from former experience my abili- 
ty to comply with my engagements, I can any mo- 
ment difpo r e of property for its value. You mull 
write me fully and candidly and tell me what you 
wifh me to do, and as a man of honour it fhall be 
done. The draft in favour of Mr. Stables, is for 
$ £Oo, at fixty days fight. I intended writing more 
fully, but am prevented by company. Will you 
and your good lady never let me fee you at Fountain] 



48 

Rock? it would give me and Mrs. Ringgold much 
pleafure, 

I am your friend, 

SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Rock Feb. 27/A. 1804. 
Dear Sir t 

It has been a long time fince I had a line from 
you ; I wrote you fome time paft and requefted you 
would anfwer that letter in a few days, it was on 
the fubject of a loan for twelve months from Mr. 
W — $, on which we had converfaiion when laft in 
Baltimore. I wall with candour (late to you my 
fuuation, and to relieve me from which I muft 
once more, and I hope for the laft time, beg your 
friendly aid. Judgments to the amount of g 8,oco 5 
have been affirmed in the court of appeals againft my 
brother Tench and myfelf, as fecurities of our 
unfortunate brother. Mr. Brice, who is the at- 
torney in moft of the fuits, holds judgments to the 
amount of B 3,000; he has nropofed to me that he 
will not iffue execution againft us, provided we 
will pafs to him our joint notes payable, viz. one 
note, fay Mr. William Tilghman 5 s claim for $400, 
payable on the 15th of April, and two other notes 
payable on the firft day of July next, one for Mr. 
R. Tilghman, fourth claim, and the other for the 
claim of John Miller, amounting together from 
2, to $2,600, the notes I have enclofed Wanks to 
you and drawn in your favour, and figned by me; 
if my brother Tench is in town he will fign them 
alfo, if not it is of no confequence. Mr. Brice 
will ca 1 on you as I have written to him on the fub- 
ject. I muft now perform another duty, and in- 
form you how funds are to be raifed to meet the 
payment of thofe — Firft we have judgment againft 



49. 
Mr- S. Davis, Dr. Brifcoe, and Mr. Norris Wright, 
and executions are now in the hands of the Sheriff 
of Kenc county, for upwards of S2 5 ooo, and Mr. 
Price's bond on which there is due upwards of 
$2,400, I have reafon to think will be paid in a few 
weeks, and the lands of the Folly, laying near Mr. 
Hynfon's we have divided. Mr- R. Tilghrnan's 4th 
to make fale of, being woodland, we expect it will 
fe ] l very readily ; fhould we be difappointed in our 
expectations from thofe three fources, and the mo- 
ney cannot be raifed, I can at any moment difpofe 
of a piece of my land, which (hall be done if ne- 
cellity requires. Indeed if fuch a fum could be 
procured from Mr. W— d, for twelve months, it 
would be much more agreeable to me ; you can try 
him, and let me know what he fays, as by that time 
the property of my brother could be fold to more 
advantage. I hope to hear from you in a few days ; 
will you be fo good as to inform me the price of 
clover feed and plaifier, and fay whether you ex- 
pect the price of wheat and flour will be high. My 
bed refpects to Mrs. Wilmer, and your good mother 
and family, and believe me, 

Your friend, 
SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 
P. S. You will call on Mr. Scott, who will, with 
Mr, N. Brice, afcertain the amount of each claim 
for what the three notes mufl be given, and with 
which you will fill up the blanks.* S. R. 

Fountain Rock, March 26th, 1804. 
Dear Sir, 

It has been many weeks fince I had the pleafure 
of hearing from you — I have indeed been uneafy 

* Not a shilling was received on one of the above promi- 
ses. G 



50 ' 

about fome notes I enclofed to you, as I know you 
never acknowledged the receipt of that letter ; will 
you perufe it again, and anfwer the various parU of 
it. What is your opinion of the propofed Union 
Bank — do you think it will be good ftock to veil a 
capital in ? 1 am making arrangements for the fale 
of part of my land ; I propofe to fell from three to 
5,000 acres, I think it will average me 3 30 per 
acre, which will give me the command of from 
loo, to £150,000. Imuft either do that or relin- 
quiih publick life, and diminifh my expenfes. I 
will thank you to fend by the bearer, a black man 
who drives Mr, Edward's wagon, a ton of plaif- 
ter of Paris, (I would prefer French plaifter), and 
two bufhels of good new timothy feed, and two 
buOiels of good clover feed — I imagine you can get 
them from my friend Jefle Hollingfworth. I hope 
to fee you in May next, in Baltimore, A few 
bufhels of good York river oyfters would be very 
agreeable, accompanied with a few good rock and 
perch. My refpe&s to Mrs, Wilmer, and family. 
I am fincerely your's, 

S. RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Rock, May gth, 1804. 
Dear Sir, 

The morning of my departure from Baltimore, 
I drew on you in favour of Doctor Schnebley for 
about £ Coo at a very fliort fight, and wrote you 
by him a (hort note — you will pardon me I am fure 
for fo doing, when I te'l you it was to anfwer an 
execution he held in his hands, and which I 
thought would have been paid here. In that note 
I requefted that you would get cne of the notes I 
left in your hands difcounted for $ 2000 and to ap- 
ply part to the payment of that draft, and remit me 






51 

by poft the balance ; I am forry to apply to you fo 
often on a bufmefs fo difagreeable, but believing 
this will be the laft time, I apply with more confi- 
dence. J muft pay a man who has come from the 
Ohio S15CO on Monday, and as the time is fo fhort 
that. I cannot colled it here ; I muft beg of you to 
get the note difcounted and remit me by the mail 
on Saturday the balance after deducting the amount 
of the draft in favour of Dr. Schnebley. I muft 
in this inftance, rather than difappoint the man who 
has come fo far, and to whom I coniider myfelf 
under fome obligation, make a facrifice ; if not pof- 
fible to fend it by Saturday's, fend it certainly by the 
Tuefday's mail. 

I am happy to inform you that before I got home 
my clerk had feveral applications from different 
perfons, to buy part of my land ; they are to be 
here again next week ; I have no doubt I fhall rea- 
dily accomplifh the fale upon very advantageous 
terms ; I hope I mail then have it in my power to 
I repay the many obligations I confider myfelf under 
I to you. Do let me hear from you on Saturday, if 
not by the mail s the ftage from Evans's will take it 
as a way-letter. My family I found all well. Make 
my refpe&s to your lady and family, and believe 
me your friend, 

SAMUEL RINGGOLD.* 



Dear Wilmer 9 

I have drawn upon you for $U,97 in favour of 
Dr. Schnebley, our late iheriff, on account of an 
execution ; you will raife the money from one of 
the notes I gave you ; if you could get a diicount 
for 60 days on one of them for $4000, and pay the 

* No land sold yet, no money paid. 



*q 



above order out of it, you will be fo good as to fend 
the balance to me ; you mult get it on the beft 
terms you can, until the new bank gets in operation. 
I will write you fully on my return home. 

Ever vours, 

S, RINGGOLD. 



Fountain Rock, June 19, 1804. 
Dear Sir? 

It has been a long time fince I had the pleafure 
of receiving a line from you ; I mould be very glad 
to hear from you on the fubject of the negotiation 
of my paper with the Union Bank ; I could wifh 
it to be done without my going down ; I only want 
an accommodation until the firfl of April, by that 
time I (hall be able to look every perfon in the face, 
and owe nobody, and veft a handfome fum in the 
bank. If the directors will give me an accommo- 
dation, I will p-edge my word and honour that the 
notes fhai! retire on the 4th April if they wifh it. 
My 'and will all be fold long before that time arrives, 
the fiii veyor is now laying it off in lots, as foon as 
that is done, I fhall foon get it off my hands on my 
own terms ; I have already a number of very good 
offers, and am only waiting for the completion of 
the furvey to contract with feveral perfons ; 1 had 
an offer to-day for T50 acres at 12I. per acre, iocol. 
in hand on the 1 ft of September next ; in no in- 
stance have I been offered lower than iol. Do write 
me by the return of the poft, and have fome con- 
verfation with the directors and inform me of the re- 
fult. I am tired of (having,* and if the directors of 
the Union Bank will not give me an accommodation 
I will be clear of debt if I am obliged to make a 



* Of being shaved, 



.53 

facrifice. Make my befl refpe&s to Mss. W. and 
believe me 

Your friend, 

S. RINGGOLD. 

Vv 7 e the underfigned do hereby agree to fubmit, 
and do hereby fubmit, all and every matter and 
thing whatsoever in difpute between us, to the ar- 
bitration and award of Lemuel Taylor and David 
Wiachefter, with power if they mould differ, to 
fe an umpire ; or if the faid Lemuel Taylor 
and David Winchefter mould think proper before 
they proceed to liquidate faid matter in difpute, 
then they mall have full power and authority to 
name a third perfon, and their determination or a 
majority of them, (hall be binding and final on us, 
our heirs and afligns. 

SAML. RTNGGOLD. 
S. WILMER. 
Witnefs. 
Lambert Smith, 
William Graves. 

Baltimore, Jugujl 14, 1804. 

Whereas certain differences hath arifen, be- 
tween Mr. Samuel Ringgold and Mr, Simon Wil- 
mer, relative to comminions and interefts, as ex- 
hibited' by the latter againfl the former. And 
whereas they have mutually agreed, to fubmit the 
faid differences to the decifion of Lemuel Taylor 
and David Winchefter. 

Be it therefore known, that we the fubfcribers in 
virtue of the above reference, have fully examined 
and duiy confidered, the documents and allegations 
of the parties \ and do hereby declare and make 



known our decifion, on the matters referred, in 
manner following, to wit : 

ift, That the faid Samuel Ringgold, (hall allow 
the faid Simon Wilmer, one half per cent, on all 
negotiations effected previoufly to the 5th day of 
January 1802, and one per cent, on all fubfequent 
negotiations. 

2d, That the faid Simon Wilmer mall dedud 
from the intereft account, which he has exhibited, 
againft the faid Samuel Ringgold, the fum of nine 
hundred eighty-three dollars, and eighty-four 
cents. 

Witnefs our hands and feals, Baltimore 14th 
September 1804. 

LEMUEL TAYLOR", (l. s.) 
D. WINCHESTER, (l. s.) 

Baltimore County, to wit : 

The jurors for the ftcte of Maryland, for the 
body of Baltimore county, upon their oath prefent, 
that Simon Wilmer, late of Baltimore county, gen- 
tleman on the fourth day of July in the year of 
our Lord one thoufand eight hundred and four, at 
the county aforefaid, had in his poffefiion one pro- 
miffary note, figned under the hand of a certain 
Samuel Ringgold, bearing date on a day and year 
to the jurors aforefaid unknown, by which laid 
note the faid Ringgold did promife to pay fixty 
days after the faid date to the faid Simon Wilmer, 
or order, three thoufand dollars for value received ; 
and that the faid Wilmer contriving and intending 
the faid Samuel Ringgold and, Robert Cooke and 
Walter Wilfon, felonioufly to deceive and defraud, 
on the faid fourth day of July in the year of our 
Lord one thoufand eight hundred and four, with 
force and arms at the county aforefaid, wickedly, 









-55 

-.u.dwrully and felonioufly did falfeiy alter and 
forge the faid promiifary note, by changing and al- 
tering the original date to the fourth of July in the 
year of our Lord one thoufand eight hundred and 
four ; to the evil example of all others in like cafes 
offending, againft the form of the act of aiTembly 
in fuch cafe made and provided, and againft the 
peace, government and dignity of the (late of Ma- 
ryland : and the jurors aforefaid upon their oath 
aforefaid do further prefent, that the faid Simon 
Warner, contriving and intending the faid Samuel 
Ringgold and the faid Cooke and Wilfon, feloni- 
oufly to deceive and defraud, on the fourih cay of 
July in the year of our Lord one thoufand eight 
hundred and four, with force and arms at the coun- 
ty aforefaid, the faid promiifary note fo falfeiy alter- 
ed and forged as aforefaid wickedly, falfeiy, un- 
lawfully, fraudulently and felonioufly did publlfh 
and utter to the faid Cooke and Wilfon, for and as 
a true promiifary note, executed by the faid Samuel 
Ringgold, he the faid Wilmer at the time of pub- 
lifhing and uttering the faid falfe and forged pro- 
miflary note, there by him in form aforefaid, well 
knowing the faid promifTary note to have been falfeiy 
altered and forged as aforefaid, to the evil exam- 
ple of all others in like cafes offending, sgainfl the 
form of the acl of aflembly in fuch cafe made and 
provided, and againft the peace, government and 
dignity of the flate of Maryland. 

L. MARTIN, Atfygen. 
of the State of Ma r yland* 
WUnef$i 

Robert Cooke, 

Walter Wilson. 
True copy. 

Wm. GIBSON, Clk. 



56 

TRIAL ON THE SECOND CHARGE. 

The fecond indictment being read, refpecting S# 
Ringgold's note, endorfed by me, and pafied to 
Cooke and Wilfon ; to which my attornies plead 
not guiky. As in the firft trial I acknowledged 
the note, and my paffageof it to Cooke & Wilfon, 
the attorney general then called the witneffes for 
the ftate — Robert Cooke, & Walter. Wilson. 

Att. Gen. Mr. Cooke, relate to the court and 
jury what you know of this note. 

Robert Cooke. We received Mr. Ringgold's note 
from Mr. Wilmer, as fecurity, or payment, for 
monies he owed us. 

Aft. Gen. That is for money he owed Cooke & 
Wilfon ? 

Cooke, ' Yes. 

.Att. Gen t Mr. Cooke, did you ever fee this note 
before the prifoner paid the fame to you ? 

Cooke. I did not, 

Att. Gen. Mr. Cooke, then you do not know 
whether the prifoner altered the date of this note ? 

Cooke. I know nothing more about it, except 
what Mr. Ringgold fwore to. 

Kell. What Mr. Ringgold told you, or fwore 
to, is not evidence. 

Att. Gen. Mr, Wilfon, relate to the court and 
jury, what you know of this note. 

Wilfon. I know nothing more than what Mr. 
Cooke has related. 

Att. Gen. Then, Mr. Wilfon, you never faw the 
note until it was paffed to Cooke and Wilfon by the 
prifoner ; and you do not know whether the prifon- 
er altered the date of faid note ? 

Wilfon. I do not. 

The attorney general then told my attornies that 



57 
they were at liberty to afk what queftions they 
pleafed. 

Mr. Thomas Barklie, broker, was then called. 
Kelt. Mr. Barklie, have you been in the habit 
of negotiating Mr. Ringgold's paper, with Mr. 
Wilmer as endorfer, and how long ? 

Barklie. I have, ever fince the latter end of 1 800, 
or early in 1801. 

KelL Mr. Barklie, has not Mr. Wilmer uniform- 
ly (hewn you Mr. Ringgold's authority for railing 
money for his accommodation ? 
Barklie. He has. 

KelL Mr. Barklie, in many cafes have you not 
feen blank notes of Mr. Ringgold's in the poiTeffion 
of Mr, Wilmer, to be filled up as circumftances 
might require ? 
Barklie. I have. 

Scott. Mr. Barklie, have you not frequently been 
compelled, in order to raife 8 1500 or 2000, to have 
a note filled up for a much larger fum ; and was 
not Mr. Wilmer, independent of his endorfement, 
compelled to give his note for the fpecifick fum 
raifed. 
Barklie. In all cafes. 

KelL Mr. Barklie, have you not held Mr. Ring. 
gold's paper for many days without being able to 
negotiate it, with Mr. Wilmer's endorfement ; and 
was it polTible, from the amount of that paper in 
the market, to be regular in the negotiation of ic ? 
Barklie. I have held it many days, and in fome 
cafes have returned it to Mr. Wilmer undone - 7 
which extremely embarr ailed Mr. Wilmer. 

My attornies then requeued the attorney general 
to afk any queftions he pleafed, 
Att, Gen. Mr. Barklie, I think you have inform- 

H 



58 

ed the court and jury that you have uniformly feen 
Mr. Ringgold's authority to v Mr. Wilmer, for rail- 
ing money for him ? 

Barklie. I have. 

Att. Gen. Mr. Barklie, you have alfo faid that 
you have raifed money under fuch authority. In 
what manner did you ^raife it, by difcount, or by 
{having ? 

Barklie. I have raifed the money ; but I do not 
know by what term to defignate the intereft. I pre- 
fume a law character oppofite could gratify the 
court. 

Att. Gen. Mr. Barklie, then in all cafes a larger 
fum was required to be filled up than wanted, and 
the prifoner had to give his own note for the fpecifick 
fum raifed ? 

Barklie. In many cafes ; and Mr. Wilmer had 
always to give his own note. 

Att. Gen. Mr. Barklie, could you not have raif- 
ed the money for Mr. Ringgold without Mr. Wil- 
mer as endorfer ? 

Barklie. Not a cent. 

Mr. S tables was then called. 

Scott. Mr. Stables, has not Mr. Wilmer paid 
you large funis on account of Mr. Ringgold ? 

Stables. He has. 

Kell. To what amount ? 

Stables. My account was upwards of 3000 dols. 

Kell. Has not Mr. Wilmer given you his own 
notes for the accommodation of Mr. Ringgold ? 

Stables. He has. 

Kell. Where was the neceffity for that arrange- 
ment ? 

Stables. Mr. Wilmer's notes were negotiable at 
bank, and Mr. Ringgold's were not. 

Levi Hqllings worth, Efq. was then called. 



59 

Scott, Mr. Hollingfworth, has not Mr. Wilmer 
been in the habit of obtaining accommodations 
from the Bank of Baltimore for Mr. Ringgold ? 

Hollingfworth. Yes. 

Kell. Mr. Hollingfworth, was not the firft note for 
fuch accommodation Mr. Ringgold's, with Mr. Wil- 
mer and another endorfer ; did not the directors ob- 
ject to Mr. Ringgold as payer, and did they not 
agree to the accommodation, provided Mr. Wilmer 
would become payer ? 

Hollingfworth, The board did require that change 
of the paper, and the wifhed for accommodation 
was fecured for the ufe of Mr. Ringgold. 

Lemuel Taylor, Efq. was then called. 

KelL Mr. Taylor, were you not one of the ar- 
bitrators in the cafe of Simon Wilmer and Samuel 
Ringgold ? 

Taylor. I was. 

KelL What was the amount of the award? 

Taylor. I believe between 15 and 1 6,000 dols. 

Scolt. Mr. Taylor, did you read Mr. Ringgold's 
authorities to Mr. Wilmer, for railing money ? 

Taylor. I did ; and thought them very extenfive. 

AtU Gen. Mr. Taylor did there not appear to 
be an important difference in their accounts of 
notes, &c. ? 

Taylor. There did ; but we had only to liquidate 
the fpecifick accounts rendered to us \ and awarded 
agreeably thereto. 

Wm. Cooke, Efq. then depofed, that to the bed of 
his knowledge he had received from the marfhal 
(which money he underftood came thro' Mr, Wilmer) 
the amount of Mifs Cadwallader's judgment againft 
Mr. Ringgold ; that fo far from meriting Mr. Ring- 

H 2 



60 

gold's opprobrious language, he had indulged hrsm 
from term to term, until his client became very 
pointed and importunate with refpect to her money ; 
which circumftance was communicated to Mr. 
Ringgold's attorney, Mr. Scott, who agreed that 
if the money was not paid on fuch a day, that exe- 
cution might iflue for my juftification ; which was 
punctually attended to on my part. He concluded 
by obferving, that he now held feveral executions 
againft Mr. Ringgold, on which he might expect 
no indulgence. 

The attorney general then ftated the law and 
facl: to the jury ; which my attornies recapitulated 
in a few words. They then fubmitted the cafe* 
The jury did not require a moment to verdi&izc my 
innocence. 



.1 conceive it unneceflary to publifh the trial of 
Mr. Stevenfon's indictment, founded on the volun- 
taiy teftimony of Cooke and VVilfon, as the jury 
have teftified my innocence, and as Mr. Waters' 
note was prefented on the fame principle, and with 
the fame malice, I mail difpenfe with the publicity 
of that trial alfo, becaufe his teftimonial for my cha- 
racter, mud eradicate ail fufpicion of my guilt. 

Now, my friends and fellow-citizens, you have 
fcen thofe precious profemons of eternal friend - 
fhip, which were fo laviffily heaped on me by S. 
Ringgold, Efq. merely for the purpofe of hurling 
me to deftru&ion ; for the firft opportunity which 
afforded itfelf he embraced to accomplifh his pre* 




m 

meditated objeft. In May Iaft, when. Mr, Ring- 
gold was in this city, I mentioned to him the necef- 
fity of making immediate provifion for the redemp- 
tion of his paper, obferving, both his intereft and 
my credit loudly called for the meafure. He re- 
plied that he would exert every nerve to relieve me ; 
and that in order to convince his noteholders of 
his intention to wind up his negotiations, he would* 
advertife three or 4,000 acres of land for fale. — 
which he accordingly did in all our daily papers. 
Mr. Ringgold then gave me his obligation, to fe- 
cure the payment of all interefl that I had paid, or 
might pay for him ; this arrangement was required, 
to prevent a plea againft ufury, in cafe of Mr. Ring- 
gold's death- He alfo gave me three or four blank 
notes, and then took leave, with a promife that no 
further demand mould be made on my friendship 
until a final fettlement took place. However he 
did not reach Fountain Rock, without meeting the 
Sheriff of Wafhington county, with an execution 
in his pocket, for which I mud provide* As foon 
as he gets home, there is a man from afar to whom 
he owed 1,250 dls. a debt of honour ; this creditor 
would not leave his houfe without the money. — 
Here again was I jeopardized ; however, with ex- 
treme inconvenience, both thofe demands were fa- 
tisfied by me. A reference to Mr. Ringgold's let- 
ters will confirm every fad I ftate. In July lad 
Mr. Ringgold, from my embarraffment, was com- 
pelled to come to town. I then furnifhed him 
with his account, obferving, that it would be pro- 
per to call on his note-holders, by adveitifement, 
for that, from my extreme diftrefs, magnified fums 
were ifTued, when on many of the notes, there was 



62 
but fmall balances due. His reply was, that he 
wanted no publicity given to the tranfa&ion, for he 
would make immediate arrangements to. take up 
the paper ; but inftead of fulfilling his promife, 
after agonifmg me with fufpenfe for feveral days, 
he informed me that he was ready to go into the 
liquidation of accounts. IVly mind at that moment 
was fo palfied with diftrefs, that I was wandering 
to and fro, like a pilgrim, with all the horrours of a 
jail in view ; and I at lad determined to crofs the 
bay on a fpeculation for compofure. My family 
being left unprotected, civil officers were authoris- 
ed to enter my houfe ; the feizuie of my furniture 
was legalized ; my wife's tears were flreaming 
from every fource of rnifery— to this heart-rend- 
ing fcene was Mr. Ringgold, " my friend for ever," 
an -applauding fpeclator, inftead of offering folace 
to the wife and child of the man who had ruined 
himfelf to advance his eafe, comfort and conveni- 
ence. His feftive boards could no longer be cover- 
ed, from the oyfter to the pipe of Madeira, by me ; 
and his trappings of royalty* could no longer be 
paid for with my funds. f 

My friends and feLow-cirizens. you are now to 
know that on the receipt of a letter from my dear 
Mrs. Wiimer, communicated in language of fuch 
ienfibility, and ennobled by fentiments of fuch riv- 
etted attachment as rouzed me from lethargy, and 
elevated my foul above the cafualties of temporal 

* The outfits of gilders, upholsterers, &c. &c. that attend- 
ed the setting up of a piece of tapestry, which Mr. Munroe 
brought from France, to decorate thearistocratical walls of Pa- 
my-doivn Hall, were scarcely exceeded by lord McCartney's 
.mission to the emperofcr of China, 
f Look at Stablest testimony. 



63 

misfortune — I immediately returned to my family ; 
and ftrange to tell, " my command me through life 
as a friend at all times ready to ferve you," had 
added difgrace to injury, by echoing forgery againft 
me. Under thofe circumftances, my firft object 
was to obtain an arbitration ; which event was ulti- 
mately accomplifhed, as the award will teftfy. — 
On the final approbation of that awtrd, Mr. Ring- 
gold and myfelf parted with feeming refpect ; but, 
itrange to tell, again " my dear fir, and your's ever 
imcerely," mud go before a magiftrate and take an 
oath, (which he lent to Cooke & Wilfon) for the 
purpofe of profecuting me. But my friends and 
fellow citizens, you fee my firmnefs, fortitude and 
innocence, have borne me through thofe fcenes of 
malice and perfecution. Look at the fignatures 
of gentlemen who have teftifted as to my charac-: 
ter. But " my friend for ever 9 is not yet fatrsfied. 
lie has exhibited a note of his that 1 paifed to Wil- 
liam M'Mechin, Efq. dated in my hand writing, 
Wafliington. This effort is to keep obloquy alive; 
but 1 am authorifed to fay that Win, M'Mechin, 
Efq. received that note for the fpecial ufe of Samu- 
el and Tench Ringgold, to relieve an execution 
againft Thomas Ringgold's property. Any perfon 
may be fatisfied on that fubjecl: by application to 
William M'Mechin, Efq. I alfert my right to have 
dated that note at Mr. Ringgold's prefent refidence. 
It would have been highly prefumptive to have an- 
ticipated his future. 

Mr. Ringgold has taken every advantage of my 
misfortunes, which could feed fpleen and fofter 
malice, by afferting that the notes which I had im- 
plicated him for, far exceeded my award. As to 
this charge, I will juft refer my readers to Mr. 
Bardie's teftimony $ and I will then acknowledge 






64 

that the paper afloat docs exceed the award: for 
the amount arbitrated to me does not furpafs S 1 6,ooo 
when the paper amounts to about 22,000, But 
how can Mr. R. complain of lofs by me, when he 
has net paid one cent of the award, and his notes 
have been marketed for I2/6 to }<;/ in the pound. 
I fay, why does not Mr. Ringgold place in the 
hands of his attorney the amount of the award ? 
For this good reafon ; Mr. Brice would receive a 
handfome commiflion, and I aconfiderable balance, 
after every note was retired ; but the enormous 
crime alledged againfl: me by wealth, power and 
party, arifes from my daring (after my bank accom- 
modation was fwallowed up to fatiate the poverty 
and importunity of a few country gentlemen) to 
ufe their paper on principles of reciprocity, that in 
as much as they vaiued on my credit to its ftretched 
extent, I had not privilege to ufe their names for 
my relief. I contend I had, and with refpeel to 
Mr. Ringgold, his manor would not remunerate the 
facrifices I have made to gratify him. I now con- 
clude with him for ever, with the following advice 
as I ftill highly reverence many branches of his ref- 
peclable family. 

Let him convert his politicks into plow (hears — 
his malice into pruning hooks. Let his tenants be 
benefited by his examples of induftry and man- 
agement ; let his intereft be limited to the premium 
of equity ; and laflly, let him dived himfelf of flat- 
terers who difgrace fincerity, and moths that are 
conftantly nibbling at the habiliments of wealth ; 
and I hope to hear, notwithftanding Mr. Ring- 
gold's virulence againfl: me, that his family will en- 
joy all thofe temporal bleflings that are meeted to 
the chofen of this fphere of aftion. 



65 

SHAVERY. 

As I am fearful r {hall fatigue my readers wich 
the expofition of perfecution and ingratitude, I will 
introduce fome observations on ufury ; which may 
reform •a.Jhaver when he finds the profeffion not on- 
ly difreputable, but exprefsly forbid by both divine 
and human laws. On the clofe of thole facls which 
are the offspring of painful experience, I fhal! pro- 
ceed with the memoirs of the balance of my in- 
gra« 



USURY IN OLD TIMES— SHAVING IN MODERN. 

" In thee have they taken gifts to fhed blood ; 
thou haft taken ufury and inceafe, and thou haft 
greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hail: 
forgotten me, faith the Lord God." 

Ezekiel, c. xxii, v. 12. 

" He that by ufury and unjufl gain increafeth his 
fubftance, he fhall gather it for him that will pity 
the poor." 

Proverbs, c. xxviii v. 8. 
cc An aft again/1 excejfive ufury. 

u Beit enacted, by the Queen's ?noft excellent majcf 
ly, by and with the advice of her ttidjeftfs Governour y 
council and affembly of this Province, arid the authority 
-of the fame, that no perfon or perfons whatfoever, 
within this province, whether inhabitant or foreign- 
er, upon any contract, from and after the end of 
this prefent ieffion of affembly, fhall exac"t or take, - 
direclly or indirectly, for loan of any monies, wares 
or merchandifes, or other commodities whatfoever, 
to be paid in money, above the value of fix pounds 
for the forbearance of 100L for one year, and fo 
after that rate for a greater or leffer fum, or for a 

I 



66 

longer or fhorter time ; nor fhall any perfon or per- 
fons whatfoever within this Province as aforefaid, 
from and after the time aforefaid, exact and take, 
directly or indirectly for loan of any Tobacco, wares 
merchandife or other commodities, for one year 
to be paid in Tobacco, or other commodities of this 
Province, above the value of 8 pounds of tobacco, 
for the forbearance of ioo pounds of tobacco for 
one year, and after that rate for a greater or lef- 
ferium, or for a longer or fhorter time^» V0* 

" And that all bonds, contracts and afTurances 
whatever, made after the time aforefaid for pay- 
ment of any principal money or tobacco, goods or 
commodities aforefaid; to be lent or covenanted to 
be performed, upon or for any ufury whereupon or 
whereby there (hall be referved above the rate of fix 
pounds in the iool. for money aforefaid, or above 
8 pounds in the hundred pounds of tobacco or other 
goods and commodities aforefaid, fhall be utterly 
void. 

" And that all and every perfon or perfons whatfo- 
ever, who after the time aforefaid, fhall upon any 
contract to be made, take, accept and receive, by 
ways and means of any corrupt bargain, loan, ex- 
change, chievance, fhift, or intereft of any wares, 
merchandife, or other thing or things, whatfo- 
ever, or by any deceitful ways or means, or by any 
cover, inftrument or deceitful conveyance, for the 
forbearance, or giving day of payment, for one 
whole year, of and for their money, tobacco, goods 
and commodities aforefiid, above the fum of mo- 
ney, or quantity of tobacco aforefaid, for the for- 
bearance aforefaid, fhall forfeit and lofe for every 
fuch offence the treble value of the money, tobacco, 
wares and merchandife, or other thing fo lent, bar- 
gained, fold, exchanged, and fluffed as aforefaid.^ 



67 ' 
the one-half of the faid fine and forfeiture to our 
Sovereign lady the Queen, her heirs and fucceiTors 
for the fupport of this government ; the other half 
to him or them that (hall fue for the fame, to be 
recovered in any court of record in this Province, 
by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, where- 
in no effoine, protection, or wager of law to be al- 
lowed." 

, Kilties laws of Maryland, Chap. lxix. 1704. 

I had originally fkeiched out the memoirs of 
fome of our mod: illuftrious characters in the pro- 
fecution of this profeffion ; but as my language was 
more influenced by prejudice and fancy than fact, 
I take this opportunity of declaring to the publick, 
that I am willing to recall any fatire that I have 
heretofore directed againft any of thofe gentlemen, 
and to apologife particularly to Mr, Henry Pratt, 
and Mr. Nathan Tyfon, for my Philippics againft 
them ; but I mud be permitted to controvert the 
negative, reafoning in favour of ufury. It is fre- 
quently afferted that there is no fundamental dif- 
ference between the barter of paper and other com- 
modities. I deny the pofition from experience, 
for inftance — a merchant purchafes iooo barrels 
of Hour at $ 10 per barrel, on a credit of 60 days, 
on fpeculation ; and as his notes are maturing with- 
out a profpecl: of thofe profits which his calculation 
had anticipated, he puts the fame article into mar- 
ket at a iacrifice of 50 cents per barrel, in prefer- 
ence to commercial difgrace ; — here ends the tranf- 
action, with the fecrect trtnsfer of $ 500 to his 
profit and lofs account. But if the fame merchant 
had committed his paper, to the amount of the 
flour in ten notes, to the difpofition of a broker, 
whofe bufmefs is meafured by the extent of diftrefs'; 



6S 

the grand rounds among the fhavers, would have 
multiplied this merchant' s units into tens, and af- 
ter having been exhibited to many of thofe (harpers, 
at lad a (hykck is found to give a fomething for it, 
whofe diftruft is confianrly alive ; and he is continu- 
ally making impertinent enquiries, to the prejudice 
of the drawer. The note then after a lying-in of 6a 
days, is prefented to bank for collection rydered by 
the endorfement of ufury, which expofes the draw- 
er to the criticifms of the bank officers; at the 
next board we find our merchant again recognifed ; 
his credit is lefTened by reduction of difcounts ; af- 
ter which calumny inveftigates this arreft of confi- 
dence, which creates defpondency; pride lofes her 
itation ; domeftick endearments become foured un- 
der the weight of deprefiion ; and our difconfolate 
merchant flies again to the broker, and perhaps, 
adds -the bottle, which copartnership never fails to 
deftroy mattered credit, and advance a martyrdom 
to ufury; which is prohibited by both divine and 
human law givers. 

I have not the folly to denounce againfl every 
man's ufing his own money as may be bed calcu- 
lated to advance his intereft ; but I contend that the 
exercife of fhavery, opprefiively ernbarrafies a moft 
refpeclable clafs of our fellow-citizens ; I mean the 
mechanical grade of fociety. That part of the 
community are unpatronifed by bank favouis ; and 
in many instances become vi&ims to fpeculative 
fcrewing. When a job is offered, many merito- 
rious applicants are candidates for it ; this conteft 
too frequently, leffens the price of labour to a mere 
cypher; well when the veiTel is fupplied with her 
outfits and the landlord turns his key on the finiflv 
ed houfe, the mechanick prefents his bill, in con- 
formity to contract. But inftead of receiving pay- 



69 

merit for his labour, he has the frozen put off of " call 
again," when both the merchant and the houfehol- 
der knows, that " call- again" has neither an af- 
Jhclated or chartered currency^ which will either pur- 
chace iron, coal, or bread. The mechanick is 
. left to provide for his workmen; (whofe fa- 
milies require a weekly reward of the huiband's la- 
bour) probably after a whole day is confumed in 
trying to borrow as much money as will fatisfy the 
calls of want he is at length compelled to market 
his own note for 60 days at the facrihce of all the 
profit of his bill. After all this lo ! s of time the 
econemy of which is a mechanick'' s fortune, and 
as bis note is maturing, he finds it neceifary to vifit 
lC - r. call-again" who reprobates his importunity,. 
and then iiTues his note, without intefeft at uxty 
days. Here is an imperious diftintEHon between 
the merchant and the mechanick ; becaufe a mer- 
chant would have coerced punctuality, or had the 
power of bank difcount ; but the poor mechanick 
is ftarfed with a promiifory paper, which his necelli- 
ties compel him to confign to the broker of {haver y ; 
this difcount being paid, places the mechanick far 
behin4 his foivent pofition, when the contrad com- 
menced. 

In my obfervations on this fubjecl I do not allude 
to any individual ; but whoever the cap fits, let 
him wear it. 

Whenever the banking iyfiern will extend its ad- 
vantages to the encouragement of labour, as well as 
the gratification of inordinate wealth, the commu- 
nity will become copartners in the welfare of pub- 
lick inductions ; but fo it is, that the promifed ad- 
vantages in all novel companies, the benefits of 
banking eftabli foments are limited 10 the few, while 
the many are beggard by the change- I think the 



70 

agents of fuch eftabiifhments ought to form fome 
plan for mechanical relief. In England, private 
banks feel it their indifcriminate duty- to accommo- 
date the farmer,ienant <k mechanick, who cannot meet 
their engagements when due. This principle fyftema- 
tifes punctuality in all grades of fociety, and unites a 
general folicitude for the financial welfare of that 
government ; which confidence has long been its 
falvation. If I do not trefpafs on the bye laws of 
our banks, which it is not my intention to do, for 
to the Batik of Baltimore, with whom my negotia- 
tion did take place, I thus publickly offer my con- 
federations of refpetl and gratitude ; to its board, 
as well as all its fubordinate officers, for their libe- 
rality, politenefs and civility to me. But if they 
will adopt the following plan, I think the banking 
fyftem will reciprocate the ufe of money with every 
rials of citizens, agreeable to their avocations and 
punctuality. In the fir ft place, I would not dis- 
count a note of accommodation for any ftockholder 
who profecuted commerce, if he reprefented more 
than ioo (hares ; becaufe a merchant can at all 
times employ his funds to more profit in this day of 
funding fyftem, than locking up his refources in 
bank (hares ; and if he fpeculates on his own mo- 
ney to the utmoft link of his chain in (lock ; I 
think he is not entitled to bank patronage, where 
fo many men confined to wants of juftice. are ex- 
cluded from any bank accommodation. Secondly, 
1 would not difcount any ftockholder' s note, who 
reprefented more than ico (hares that did not pro- 
fecuce commere, for while his capital is rolling to 
the ftandard of profit and dividend, he is furnifhed 
with bank monies for the purpofe of ufuriftng on the 
neceflities of the friendlefs merchant ancl unprotect- 
ed mechanick, I know fome men who have pro- 



71 

cured difcount from banks for the fpecial intention 
of invefting its flock while others of equal en- 
terprize and integrity have been denied the rights 
of accommodation for the fecurity of their credit; 
and I have known mammoths in fhavery, mono- 
polies in Heck, receiving difcounts for the conti- 
nuance of their ufury. Under thofe circmnitances, 
how can the mechanick feel that confequence info- 
ciety, that refpect for their own emulation, and 
how can they efneourage induftry and punctuality ? 
Our country has been referved for domeflick felici- 
ty, and equality of rights, but licemioufnefs is fall 
frittering away the firlt blefiing, while the influence 
of wealth is making gigantick ftrides over the po- 
litical birth right of the laft. 

I forefee that the foregoing obfervations will be 
afcribed to perfonal popularity, but as it was necef- 
fary for me to treat on fhavery, I thought it equally 
my duty to falute my brother victims. 

P. S. I have paid g 21,340 50 cents for my in- 
formation, and entirely for the benefit of the farth- 
ing inter ell. 

A SHAVER. 

I now, my fellow-citizens, will tranfport you from 
fhavery to a (haver. — On the 24th of May laft, after 
Walter Wiifon had been an active aiTiftant in ad- 
vancing my martyrdom to ufury, as Mr. Bardie's 
certificate teftifies, he mentioned to me that he 
knew my diftrefs for money to gratify the wants of 
country gentlemen, and that they had (meaning 
Cooke and Wiifon) contemplated a mode of relief. 

As Mr. Wiifon had been in the habit of fhaving 
my paper, I prefumed that his wealth would be <wr 
lunteered on ufurious inter eft to meet my wants ; but, 
ftrange to tell, his language was in the following 



72 
.words : ci We know you have bufmefs enough to employ 
three -of Uf$ and we have money fujflcieni to extricate you 
fo?n all your- difficulties" The found of. " money 
enough" worked my precipitate converfion to the 
views of thofe fcoundrels, and I at once confented 
to a commercial connection, without ever confut- 
ing, or communicating the meafure, to the partner 
of my bofom. Aiy mind was fo troubled with eni- 
barraffment as to totter pride from ifs pivot ; for in 
the energy of reflection, I would fcroner have em- 
braced a co-partnerihip with Joseph Pilgrim, 
fruiterer, than either Cooke or Wilfon. He exhibits 
only the deformities of body ; but they have dif- 
cloied the vices of the blacked hearts.— Yes, my fel- 
low-citizens, 1 did fqueeze wax with Cooke and 
Wilfon, when I knew that old Paddy Wilfon ferved 
his apprenticefhip to the menial duties of Sheridine's 
hotel in Belfaft ; and that he left Ireland in a hurry, 
or was conveyed by the navigation of captain 
Eellf to this country. Since his arrival, his resi- 
dence at Frederickfburg, Baltimore, &c. will clearly 
teilify, to that tribunal to which I have configned 
him, how far his word or oath is to be refpe&ed. 
And I had alfo heard that his foil Walter had ruined 

f Great exceptions have been taken at my saying Paddy 
Wilson left Ireland in a burr}-. The following fact gave rise 
to that observation : Capt. Kell had scarcely got his ship under 
way, before there was a royal mandate along side to demand 
the body of Paddy Wilson ; but as there was a fine breeze and 
a number of passengers on board, they all determined to resist 
regal authority sooner than heave to. This transaction I shall 
prove in court, by a gentleman of respectability, who came out 
at the same time with captain Kell. Every man must, know 
what would have been captain Kell's fate, if he had ever return- 
ed to Belfast. If the case was a civil one, he was liable for the 
debt, and would have been imprisoned for contempt and resistance, 
' — If the case was a criminal one, he would have been tried as 
an accomplice of the dreader, who he had knowingly assisted 
to escape from justice. 



a mod refpecteble citizen of Philadelphia, Mr. Care, 
from mifplaced confidence in his integrity as a part- 
ner, as I fhall prove before that tribunal which 
Irifh peep-ofday boys will have to meafure their me- 
rits. I had alfo heard that this faid W. Wilfon had 
left Philadelphia, after his having reduced Mr. Care 
from eafe and affluence to dependance and ruin, 
in confequence of this faid Wilfon's creating a 
fraudulent credit to the ufe of the faid Paddy W'djon of 
this city, who has become rich without profecuting 
viiible profit, and has defiled charity by begging for 
the poor, when his own family confumed the dona- 
tions : This fact, I fhall alfo fatisfa&orily eftablifh. 

As to Cooke, he is too contemptible to excite my 
particular animadverfions, except to proclaim him 
as the domino of the nefarious projetls of the Wilfons, 
— He looks more like the offspring of Neptune and 
a Carrickfurgus mermaid than any other fimilie that 
at prefent ftrikes my fancy.* 

1 fay, my friends and fellow- citizens, I did em- 
bark in this infamous, difgraceful co~partner£hip, 
when I was aihamed of being feen walking the ftreets 
with thofe fellows ; and the day after this ill fated 
firm was announced, a gentleman of the highefl re- 
fpectability on the wharf rouzed me from my lethar- 
gick ftate, by obferving, that he did not think my 
new connexion would importantly advance my con- 
fequence. From that moment my eyes were opened, 
and I found 1 was chained to the oar, with men that 
poffeffed only qualities to excite fcorn and contempt. 
Then my determination was to eafe off on the beft 

* With respect to Cooke and Wilson, my language must 
square with their insignificance. 

K 



terms I coy Id, and in confequence of Walter "Wu*. 
fon's rejecting my paper offered agreeably to contract 
by Mr. Thomas Bardie, I peremptorily demanded 
a d. Ablution of the copartnership. I know I 
have been blamed for the indifcretion of embarking 
in this bufmefs ; but, my friends and feliow-citizens, 
I hope you will receive an apology of madnefs for 
foible, and defperaiion for misfortune. You are 
now to know, that on the uth of July, ^804, that 
Jtnful firm died a commercial death; and as I was 
anxious to get rid of thofe impious fcoundrels, I gave 
them not only alignments to the full amount of 
their pretended claim againfl me, but ilfued my own 
notes payable by inflalment, fo as to fecure them ul- 
timate fa tis faction. Yes, my fellow-citizens, all 
thofe events have occurred ; now view Cooke 
and Wilfon when they fhow in the ftreets, as men, 
who would fwear the fair fame of any individual 
away on the flighted: pretext, to fatiate their malice ; 
review their grand jury oaths, and then refer to their 
teftimony in court to facrifice me. They have en- 
deavoured to imprefs the publick with an opinion 
that I deceived them as to my fituation. Who can 
believe fuch an affertion, when they read Mr. Bar- 
die's certificate ? and when it was well known that 
Walter Wilfon had not failed in Philadelphia, 12 
months before he was a fnipholder, and a (haver in 
Baltimore. In this laft capacity he well knew my 
diftrefs. — Did not this faid Wilfon. two days fubfe- 
quent to the diffolution of the co-par tnerfhip, break 
open a letter directed to me, and take out of faid 
letter a draft in my fpecial favour for § 1500— and 
did he not obtain an acceptance on faid draft, and 
hold pofTeiTon of it until 1 threatened him with pro- 
fecution ?— Jofeph Redgrave will prove thofe facts 



75 

in the proper place. They have obtained legiflative 
relief i in order to fecure their bank (lock, which is 
held in zig zag courtefy as common property for 
the benefit of that failing family. Yes, my friends 
and fellow-citizens, be it known to you, that Cooke 
and Wilfon have fecured infolvency,* when I have 
been refufed the rights of misfortune, and alfo that 
bulwark of franchize which protects the citizen 
againft oppreflion, and equalizes the conflituted 
rights of man.— I mod refpeclfully foiicited a hear- 
ing to controvert exparte charges, but an Engli/h- 
mari's letter^ who has neither citizen/hip or character, 
except what he derives from his Italian rondeaus and 
his wife's property -, deprived me of it f 

I fay paufe, wonder, and be aftonilhed, that in 
this age of reafon. that a letter mould be read in 
an enlightened legiflative body, pregnant with falfe- 
hood, and dictated by one of the mod miftical cha- 
racters, that ever difgraced refidence in this land 
of liberty, highly implicating the moral rectitude 
of an innocent but perfecuted fellow citizen, who 
has had the honour to reprefent a free people, and 
to legiflate in thofe walls, and to be entertained 
at thofe feftive boards, which Annapolis fo hofpita- 
bly and abundantly covers for the gratification of 
ftrangers, but under all thofe honours, I never loft 
fight of a regard to the wants and wifhes of misfor- 
tune ; yet i mud be marked as the Cain who Hew 
the Able,t becaufe Pontius Pilate's records 
were produced, without permitting me to eftablifh 
my innocence. However I muft quote the applu 
cable language of John Wilkes, Efq. when oppo.. 

* I have informed my political apponents that if they had 
granted my petition, that I would not have embraced its bene- 
fits on the same year that €ooke and Wilson did. 
f Henry Ward. 



76 
fed in his election to the borough of Ale(bury, by 
the excheauer influence, delivered in his own words 
to a venerable gentleman of that corporation, who 
related the fame to me refpe&ing his contefted feat 
in parliament : " do not defpair my friends, as 
good fubjecls of magnachartered monarchy; I (hall 
rife fuperiour to the machinations of wealth, power , 
and party, perfecution mull travel its rounds, but 
publick opinion will inveftigate its pretentions, and 
juftice will become triumphant," which it preemi- 
nently did in his cafe, for he not only eftablifhed 
his feat for the term of his political wifhes, but re- 
tired on the chamberlainfhip of the city of London, 
during his life. 

I now furrender my (haver and his family to 
that jurifprudence that will adminifter juftice to 
me ; my intended aflaffin has been before the 
criminal, but not the civil court. 



With refpeftto Edward Lloyd, Efq. I (hall fun- 
ply (late my commercial relations with him ; for 
notwithstanding the ground he has taken againft me 
his friendly exertions for my eftablimment in this 
city, and the grateful remembrance of his father's 
civilities, added to my moil affedionate "attachment 
to his brother-in-law J. H. Nicholfon, Efq. will (or 
ever elevate my feelings above enmity againft Mr. 
Lloyd ; but it is neceffary, as I was deprived of a 
hearing at the bar of the Houfe of Reprefentatives, 
to convince Mr. Lloyd that his oppofition was not 
well founded. 

Mr. Lloyd dated to the Houfe of Reprefentatives, 
that I had fecured all my Baltimore creditors. A 
reference to J. & S. Stump, Mr. Hezekiah Wa- 
ters, general Miller, and many others, will prove 
to the contrary. When I mentioned to thofe geitfle- 



77 
men my intention of applying for an act of infol- 
vency, they all replied that they had as much con- 
fidence in my integrity with a legal exonoration 
in my pocket, as without fuch protection ; and 
their firft wilh was to fee me again in bufinefs, in 
order that they might manifeft their friendfhip. 

Mr. Lloyd alfo ftated to the Houfe of Represen- 
tatives, that I had amufed him with fecurity, and 
not wi (landing I had jeopardifed him for near 
$i6coo, that I had only given him fecurity for $fsoo. 
In reply to this charge, I offer the following ftate- 
ment : I am endorfer, or payer, with Mr. Lloyd, 
for about g 11,940 

This fum is configned to conteft, and will not 
be brought to iifue for feveral years. A refer- 
ence to Baltimore county records will (hew that 
Mr. Lloyd has poiltive fecurity for $ 9,000 ; and 
has alfo a note and accounts for at lead §1,000, 
which makes S 10,00.0. 

Mr. Lloyd has alfo my life eftate in my wife^s 
property fecured to him, limited to g ;oo per an- 
num, and collectable by diftraint as well as the an- 
nual intereft of the full fum demanded, together 
with colts. Mr. Lloyd is to recollect, that the 
note which Cooke & Wilfon difcounted for their 
(having purposes, cannot be charged in his lift of 
crimes againfr me ; I know that Henry Ward is in. 
eluded in the deed above premifed ; but as his claim 
is principally founded on ufury and deception, I 
fhall profec\ite him in both cafes, and alfo for de- 
famation. 

Now, my friends and fellow citizens, let your 
attention be directed to my mitigation for ufing Air. 
Lloyd's paper. 

That gentleman on the 29th December, i8or, 
came to the city, and told me that he mud have 



78 

% 4->ooo 5 t^ s f um t0 a young beginner, without 
bank accommodation, certainly founded large, at 
fo dead a feafon ; however I next day mentioned 
Mr. Lloyd's wants to my valuable friend John 
Stump, Efq.* who told me that a difcount could 
be obtained, if I could procure another endorfer, 
which I did from the Signature of colonel James 
Hindman, and the money was raifed- This ac- 
commodation continued from December, 180*, to 
June, 1 804 \ fo that my name was embarked for 
Mr. Lloyd's ufe, and the exclufion of my bank 
patronage, for near two years and fix months to 
that amount. During this accommodation, which 
agreeably to the bye laws of the banks, was re- 
newable every 60 days, Mr. Lloyd frequently ne- 
glected to forward his note, which event extreme- 
ly perplexed me ; for from his general punctuality 
colonel Hindman might have afcribed his inatten- 
tion to improper views in me. During the lad dif- 
treffing winter for money, Mr. Lloyd again told 
me that he wanted an additional $ 4,000, which I 
raifed for him at 60 days. I acknowledge that this 
laft loan was predicated on llored wheat ; but it 
was depofited for Mr. Lloyd's advantage. My ne- 
gotiations in the bank of Baltimore were reduced 
in the fame ratio as my fignature was offered to ad- 
vance the accommodation of others. So that I 
clearly conceive that on banking action in as much 
as Mr. Lloyd commanded my credit, that I had a 
reciprocal right to ufe his paper for the relief of my 
diftrefs, without caufing the clamour of crime. If 
Mr. Lloyd's credit had fuffered, or he had been 
compelled to lay down the amount of the paper 

* Bank director. 



mentioned, without a profpect of redemption, theft 
that gentleman's oppoiition would have been highly 
juftifiable ; but as neither event has or can take 
place, I have no hefitation in faying, that under fi- 
milar circumftances, I fhould iffue the fame papery 
becaufe I never dreamed injury, or contemplated inca- 
pacity as to the retirement of Mr. Lloyd's paper,efpe- 
cially after I cnjlaved myfelf to Cooke and Wilfon, 
agreeable to B arclie's certificate, for its falvation. 

Mr. Lloyd read my correfpondence with him, as 
well as Henry Ward's letter to J. Gibfon, and ex- 
hibited Mr. Gibfon's notes to eftaolifh my crimes* 
and unhinge my pretentions to the rights of misfor- 
tune. It had the defired effeft in the houfe of re- 
prefentatives, who came to grand-jury decifion, on 
exparte fay fo. — But I muft Hill fuppofe Mr. Lloyd to 
poifefs integrity, honour, and candour ; and I do 
believe that his exafperation againft me is the ofF- 
fpring of prejudice, iiTuing from characters that do 
not merit his confidence. As to John Gibfon, if 
Mr. Lloyd will recur to his father's opinion of that 
marplot, it will furniih a formidable bulwark to fe- 
cure Mr. Lloyd againft his hypocricy. — Horfe con- 
tracts was the origin. 

Mr. Lloyd having deprived me of the rights of 
misfortune, after fecuring my life eflatein Mrs. Wil. 
mer's property, fo as to commit us at once to beg- 
gary, \ did hope his revenge would have been grati- 
fied ; but, ftrange to tell, he has cited me and my 
dear wife to appear in perfon before the chancellor 
at Annapolis on the third Tuefday of this month, 
when Mrs. Wilmer's delicate health, advanced by 
perfecution as well as conftitutional debility, has not 
permitted her to leave her houfe but once for three 
months* If the chancellor compels us to attend, we 



80 

mall be obliged to walk down,* for want of money 
to defray our expenfes. However, I hope their is 
yet feeling and equity enough in Maryland to fay 
that Mrs. Wilmer, who has been reared with as 
much tendernefs, and has been as well educated as 
any of my perfecutors' wives, mail not die on the 
road to Annapolis, becaufe the omnipotence of 
wealth has demanded her perfonal examination : 
And I therefore hope the chancellor of Maryland 
will devife fome plan to meet the wifhes of Mr. 
Lloyd, without prefuming our non-attendance a 
contempt of court. 

I now conclude with Mr. Lloyd, by faying, that 
his profeffions of friendfhip to my wife in her fcene 
of torture, and promifes of protection to my child,* 
are not forgotten ; nor is his father's politenefs to 
me in confequence of my devotion to his nephews in 
England ; which attention the following fads will 
illuftrate: On the jflof June, 1787, capt. Strachn, 
who married the mother of Mrs. Richard Lloyd, de- 
fired an interview with me at his counting-houfe ; 
when I went, to my aftonifhment, I faw the three 
fons of Mr. Richard Lloyd : captain Strachn told 
me, that they mud be fent to their lather, and that 
he would not be anfwerable for their paftages or fea- 
(tores. The youngeft fon (whcfe name I do not 
now recollect) obferved, with tears in his eyes, 
" Oh, Mr. Wilmer, how glad I fhould be to fee my 
dear papa !" My heart could not remain infenfible, 

* If the Chancellor's functions will permit him to extend the 
time of summons until the navigation is restored, I know that 
either captains George or John Barber will give us a passage, 
and permit us to remain on board the packet until Mr. Lloyd's, 
interrogatories are all answered. 



81 

when I contemplated ihree beautiful children, (whole 
father was in America, and vvhofe mother was in 
Scotland), friendlefs in England, and on my leaving 
the counting-houfe, I told captain Strachn that For- 
refl and Stoddert, in whofe employ I refided,* ditl 
not then tranfad col. Lloyd's bufinefs ; but if my 
credit or pittance could fecure the Mafter Lloyds a 
pafTage, that every effort mould be efTayed for their 
comfort ; which was, without a guinea in my 
pocket, as the fubfequent letter will demonftrate : 

[COPY.] 

London, 6th June,. 1 787. 
Col. Edward Lloyd. 
Sir, 

This will be accompanied by your nephews, 
the Mafter Lloyds, whofe departure I have intereft- 
ed myfelf in, or at leaft removed captain Gover's 
apprehenfions with refpect to the payment of their 
paffages. I have alfo attended to his obtaining fuch 
ftores, &c. as will contribute to render their fitua- 
tion comfortable ; and flatter myfelf, from the cap- 
tain's difpofition to pleafe, that they will experience 
every neceffary attention from him* 

With the highefl refpecl: and efteem, 
I conclude, Sir, 

Your rnoft obedient fervant, 

S. WILMER. 
P. S. I muft refer you or Mr. Richard Lloyd to 
the captain for particulars. 

* Tills is the first publick opportunity that has offered, to 
enable me to proclaim my unalterable gratitude to those gen- 
tlemen, as well as William Murdoch, Esq. for their innumerable 
srets of friendship to me, 



S3 

I have now merely to obferve, for the reflection 
of Mr. Lloyd, that I am the fame man in l8o<; (who 
his influence deprived of the rights of man) that I 
was in 1804, when he fa ftrongly urged my claim 
for the rights of money, as a bank director ; but I 
cannot conclude my obfervations without wlfhing 
that his profperity may, through life, be commenfu- 
rate with the temporal happinefs of himfelf and fa- 
mily ; and that his prejudice, founded on the deceit 
of fawners to wealth, maybe removed from his ex- 
perience of the wiles of mankind. It is, laflly, to 
be recollected, that whatever language my feelings 
from misfortune might have dictated to Air. Lloyd, 
I recall every fentiment derogatory to the firmnefs 
of man and the energy of compofure. The Wil- 
mers, as a family, are as old and refpe&able as the 
Lloyds, and have as extenfive claims to the confi- 
dence of their fellow-citizens. 



It will be obferved, that in confequence of John 
Gibfon's exhibiting a letter from Henry Ward, 
communicating my acknowledgment to him that I 
had forged the note in Mr. -Price's hands, it became 
neceffary for me to addrefs the affembly, in order to 
arreft publick prejudice, which I did by hand-bill, a 
copy of which occupies this pamphlet to the 21ft 
page. This (aid letter from my nobleman has been 
mod induftrioufly made ufe of by John Gibfon, to 
extend my injuries ; and I now fubmit the following 
fa&s to individual reflection : 

Can any perfon on earth fuppofe that if fin had 
advanced my depravity to fo flagrant a tranfgreflion, 
that wickednefs would not have invited fecrecy ; 
especially when the criminal jurifprudence of our 
country permits the prifoner in all cafes to plead not 



S3 

guilty ; and is not the jury charged with mercy, to 
prefuppofe innocence until guilt is fixed ? Yes, my 
friends and fellow-citizens, this is the praclice of 
our courts ; and the anna s of the old Bailey can- 
not furnifh an inftaace of a prifoner's offering tzfti- 
mony to convicl hirafelf. I have heard of men who 
had committed murder, but for want of proof they 
cfcaped legal conviction ; but fuch was their re- 
morfe, that life was conilantly wreflling with guilt ; 
and they at lail furrendered themfelves, by con- 
reflion, to the laws of their country, and the benigni- 
ty of their God. Yes, that God before whom 
John Gibfon mull proflrate himfelf in humility, and 
on his laft bed will his agonies be gnailied, for his 
cruel exertions to debafe me and my family. It is 
now to be known to you, that Henry Ward and John" 
Gibson were my conftant vifitors and filacers during 
my diftrefs. I do beliete that Ward jhed more crocodile 
tears of fympathy in my house than ever iffued from the 
platonic cogitations of Werter ; and yet this hero in pro- 
fe/Jion has not only forfeited all his promises of friend- 
fhip hut has pqfitively travelled into the regions of false- 
hood to advance my facrifice. I now introduce three 
of J. Gibfon's letters ; and will then proceed with 
my truths with refpect to my precious defamers ; 
and I flatter myfelf that that tribunal before which 
they (hail be fummoned, will not only fhake Gib- 
fon's cucumber mountains,* but command fome of 
Mrs. IFard's settlement. But legal damages mail only 
partially compenfate me for my fufferings. 
* Magotty. 



S4 

(No. 3.) 

Mr. Simon Wilmer, with 2~ doz. of crabs,* 

Annapolis, May 29th, 1804. 
Dear Sir, 

I fliall enclofe you a letter to the prefident and 
directors of the Union Bank of Baltimore, to be 
opened next week, their compliance requeuing a 
difcount, which will be a convenience to me; but, 
if it (hould not be complied with, I mall not be 
much mortified, as I mean it to be a fair experiment 
to fee how far they mean to accomodate gentlemen 
in the country ; however I (hall fay no more at pre- 
fent, they may rejeft it if they pkafe, feal the letter 
and do me the favour to prefent it after reading. 
I wifh you would do me the favour to be explicit 
with the directors, and give their anfwer fully fta- 
ted for the following reafons, which vou will not 
ftate to them, and I mould not at this time com- 
municate to you, but that you may be better able 
to (late the requefl for difcount, not in the humili- 
ating way that is too often had recourfe to, but as 
a right of accommodation on the terms held out. 
I can if they mould refufe — then fay that they do 
not mean an accommodation to the country, but 
that the evils are to be multiplied ; on the other hand, 
if it is granted, I fliall have all my claims paid into 
that bank, and increafe my flock to a confiderable 
amount, and its probable that my difcounts after- 
wards would be continually lefTening or rather vary- 
ing, and it might be proper under thofe circum- 
flances for me to have an account open at bank. 
My lafl letters from Philadelphia, ftate that the 
fales are going on for the recovery of about $i6ooo,f 

* Yes he even crabbed me out of my money. 

f Moon property. 



S5 

and what I have due in Maryland is about S 6oco,* 
none of which I ever mean to veil in land, but in 
flock ; I am perfonally known to mod of the direc- 
tors, therefore you will fay nothing to them as to 
w r hat are my views. I am in a hurry, therefore mud 
drop the fubject. You and Mrs. Wilmer will be 
kind enough to accept of two and half dozen of 
crabs. 

Yours fmcerely, 

JOHN GIBSON. 

(NoT^.) ; 
Friday morning. 
My Dear Sir, 

I wrote you a note yederday morning by your 
fervant, requeuing to be informed what time I 
could have a few minutes converfation with you, 
but received no anfwer ; you know very well that 
it was not to be a troublefome vifitor but as a friend 
difpofed to alleviate your difquiet, inftead of in- 
creating it,* I have done my bufinefs that I came 
up on, and intend to go down this morning in the 
packet, and wifh to fee you before I go, and will 
come up at any time you will be mofl difengaged. 
Your friend, 

JOHN GIBSON. 



(No. 5.) 
Sunday morning. 
Dear Si?', 

I was not well the lad evening or mould have 
called the lad evening, after I had finifiied. Mr* 
Ward has determined to go to Annapolis, and will 
be up the lad of the week, he has lent on a power 

* Litigation docket with reference to gouty signatures. 

f Sweet solace, this was the visit which announced Pratt 
and Tyson's forgery to sacrifice me. 



S3 

of attorney to fell twenty mares, and the money to 
be brought down againd his return. I (hall leave 
Annapolis early to-morrow morning, & mall be here 
on Tuefday in' the ftage without fail, in the mean 
time confult Mr. Martin,* and have every thing ar- 
ranged, as I am much ilraitened for time. 
Yours refpe&fuiJy, 

JOHN GIBSON. 

Now, reader, only -examine letter No. 3, which 
was dictated for the exprefs purpofe of being mown, 
and yet he fays, iS do not communicate my views ; 
I would not let you know them at this time, but to 
furniih you with argument to prove my right of 
accommodation. " Now was it poilible for this bu- 
sy body to fuppofe that when he faid white, I could 
not forefee that he intended black? however, I had 
too much refpeft for that board to infult their con- 
fequence with his insinuations, knowing that his ex- 
ertions could not affecl the charter. 

Letter No. 4, teems with folace, but its bottomry 
was tnaltce. 

Letter No. 5, mews that he was the negotiator 
with Ward ; and that his uneafmefs was the fole 
caufe of compromife, as Mr. Scott's affertions will 
prove, for I never thought that I was fo far trans- 
ported to the vortex of defperation as to believe that 
either Mr. Pratt, or Mr. Tyfon would perjure them- 
felves to deftroy me or my family. No % I have 
more confidence in either of their fay *fos than I 
have in J. Gibfon's oath, notwithstanding my impru- 
dent language againft thofe gentlemen created by the 
hypocritical communication and charges of crying 

* Here again, is his acknowledgment of my innocence, 
because the attorney general would certainly not be the person 
I should employ to lift me out of an act of forgery, when his 
©ath compels him to prosecute me. 



87 

Vv T ard and lying Gibfon, but at prefent I fnall con- 
clude with Gibfon, fubmitring the following quef- 
tions : 

Did you not on my laft loan of $ 700, (which 
tranfaction extremely embar raffed me) promife and 
give me a letter to William Owings, ttfq. foliciting 
his loan of a note, predicated on major Tilghman's 
wheat, for g 2000 ; and did you not go directly to 
Mr. Beall Owings, and tell him that 1 had a letter 
to that effect ; but that he mud not iffue the note ; 
and did I not call on Mr. Owings ; and did he not 
refufe the note, obferving that lie had already ad- 
vanced a fufficient fumon major Tilghman's wheat ? 
But my mar-plot was off— this I call a trick. 

Did you not advife Mrs. Wilmer not to give Mr. 
Lloyd any additional fecurity ? did he not tell me 
that unlefs I would give Mr. Lloyd fatisfactory fe- 
curity, that his perfonal enmity, without reference 
to publick duty, would eftabli/h him my warmefl 
enemy ? 

Did you not contract for a large quantity of 
wheat, with Chew and Betts, and Dr. Birkhead;* 
and in confequence of the life in value were not you 
a defaulter in contract to the injury of thofe gentle- 
men ? 

Have you not fworn to a charge that has no foun- 
dation , and have you not tortured friendfhip into 
crime, and malice into villainy, for the purpofe of 
facraiicing me and my family ? 

Whenever you can fatisfactorily folve thefe quef- 
tions, I will out of compaffion permit you to enjoy 
my contempt. 



At the fitting of the court of oyer and terminer 
and goal delivery for Baltimore county, in Novem- 
* John Chew, Esq. is my informant. 



88 

ber laft, four enditements were found againfl: Mr. 
Wilmer for forgery. At the very lad of the term 
a fifth prefentment was made for forgery (the note 
-<fc^Tof Mr. John Gibfon) I believe there was^ime to 
prepare the enditement, before the grand jury was 
^^^difcharged. phen Mr. Wilmer had taken his trials 
upon the charts where enditements had been found, 
and had been acquitted, he requefted me to prefer 
a petition for him to the general alTembly, then fit- 
ting for an aft of infolvency : I obferved that I 
would recommend that the govexnour mould be afk- 
ed for a nolle profequi upon the charge that re- 
mained untried, before a petition was prefented to 
the legiflature for an acl: of infolvency. Upon this 
fubjefit I confulted with my colleague, Thomas Kell, 
Esq. who coincided in opinion with me. I then 
went to Annapolis ; the governour granted the nolle 
profequi, and I preferred Mr. Wilmer fc s petition to 
the legiflature. The prayer for the nolle profequi, 
did not originate with Mr. Wilmer, but with my- 
felf, and for the reafons above Rated. 

JOHN SCOTT. 
Baltimore, Feb. 6th, 1805. 

I now offer to my readers fome facts relative to 
Henry Ward. They cannot intereft the publick, 
except for the benefit of the family cf mankind, 
whole afTociation to protect innocence and repel 
guilt, is the individual duty of every member of the 
community. This thing s hiftory, or Memoirs, are 
unknown to me, except from the communications 
of a gentleman lately returned from Europe, who at- 
tached the nobility to him that I have honoured him 
with. My acquaintance with him, will exhibit all 
the soliloquies between fhavor and mavee : " Alas ! 
■poor diftrefs." " Avaunt, misplaced ufury." And 



89 

while his profpe&s were glittered with a three-fold 
premium, he was my domeftick folacer ', my fir Pertinax 
Mac Sicophant, my fympathelick f filler, of tears. Oh ! 
yes, he was iC My Dear Sir," and " Your's ever dear 
fmcerely." Yes, between thofe fweet deceivers in 
epiftolary correfpondences, I loft th Arofit of three 
year's labour ; but if I ever have bufinefs again, it is 
to be recollected, that no tranfa&ion will be refpect- 
ed, in commercial relations, when a letter begins or 
ends with that language of deception. No ; fuch 
fweetnejs fhall be avoided with as much caution as a 
Guernfey fmuggler does the rocks of Scilly ! How- 
ever, I will conclude with this Italioni, with the fol- 
lowing queftions ; and whenever he anfwers them 
to my fatisfaclion, he (hall receive the confideration 
of my mo ft marked fcorn : 

Did you not marry a lady of refpeclable connex- 
ions and large fortune in Charlefton ; previoufly de- 
manding a transfer of all her eftate to your exclufive 
difpofition. 

Did you not introduce with your family at Anna- 
polis, a certain fellow who bears the name of Browne, 
and did you not patronize his addrelles to a young 
lady of Annapolis, who had no protection againft 
the machinations of infamy and deception, when 
you knew that Browne (as he is called) was a mar- 
ried man ? 

Did you not leave Mrs. Ward in Annapolis in 
diftrefs ; and did I not procure her a palTage to 
Charlefton, and lay in every comfort that fhe re- 
quired, notwithstanding it was reported that you had 
run off to England ? 

Did you not, after Mrs. Ward's arrival in Charlef- 
ton, confign her to pittance and dependance, while 
you ponied up her cafh to fhave with through the 

M 



United States ? And did you not promife, on trie- 
honour of a man, both to John Gibfon and myfelf, 
that if I would execute certain papers, the note in 
Mr. Price's hands (which I had never feen fince my 
paflage of it to Nathan Tyfon, and which you and 
Gibfon both Jaid was forged by Tyfon and Pratt) 
mould be tak* up to gratify the diftrefs of my fink- 
ing family, who your mutual prof ejf ion of Jincerity had 
nearly murdered ; and after the faid papers were ex- 
ecuted before John Scott, Efq. did you not go to 
T. Price, Efq. for the purpofe of (having faid note ; 
—and did you not pufh off to Philadelphia, without 
fulfilling your engagement with refpecl; to the note, 
which 1 had not a moment's difcompofure about ; 
for let my opinion have been ever fo much warped 
by improper prejudices againft Mr. Pratt and Mr. 
Tyfon, I tuve never yet feen the day that they did 
not deferve more of my confidence than either 
Ward or Gibfon I 

Have you not wrote a letter to John Gibfon, 
which begins " My Dear Sir,'* and ends " Your's 
ever dear fincerely," when not one veftage of truth 
can be found therein j and yet it commanded legif- 
lative attention? But if I could have been indulged 
with my franchife as a free-born citizen of Mary- 
land, who has more than once politically reprefented 
a free peop'e, I could have convinced that honour- 
able body that the lies of my nobleman were as un- 
founded as the lava of Mount Magotty's malice. ..Yes, 
every member of that body would have exclaimed, 
that Henry Ward was a liar, and that John Gibfon's 
note was a legal and equitable tranfa&ion. How- 
ever, as Mr. Pratt will exonerate me, Mr. Gibfon' s 
ftrength of evidence and mine will be brought to a 
fair iffue ; but as that note now implicates no other 
perfons but Ward and Gibfon, no liability can attach 



91 
to me ; but Ward, as a hypocrite, (lands unrivalled ; 
for at the moment he was fhedding tears, under the 
pretended impulfe or perfonal efteem, he told Mr. 
Lloyd that I had informed him that Mr. Lloyd's 
Wye eftate was mortgaged to me,* which lie could 
only be equalled by his faying that C. Carroll, of 
Carrolkon, fenior, note was offered to him on a dif- 
count of three per cent per month, and that it was 
reported that 1 had fumifhed my brother with a 
large fum of money to inveft for my ufe in South- 
Carolina ; when, on the contrary, my brother's ex- 
perifive and painful trip to Europe did not leave him 
funds to pay his paffage, and he was ultimately com- 
pelled to borrow $500 from William Cooke, Efq« 
to take him comfortably to Chariefton. I wim the 
citizens of Annapolis, by whom I was always treat- 
ed With the moft diftinguifhed refpect, could only 
hear Ward's <:orTee-houfe tete-a-tete about them, and 
I think but two fentiments would prevail — contempt 
and indignation. 

You now fee, my friends and felltfw- citizens, that 
I have with manly fortitude and confcientious inno- 
cence, met the thorns of piercing oppofition ; every 
flep has been adopted to unhinge my firmnefs and 
deftroy the felicity of my fami'y ; but the efforts of 
malice have failed. Many of my negative friends 
were fo alarmed as to advife me in all the cafes to 
apply for a noli profequi ; but 1 thanked them for their 
folk itude for my Jafety, obferving that I Jhould always 
deprecate their temerity ; for that much virtue had 
been facrificed for want of deciflon. And I really 

* I now beg leave to inform my readers that no observations 
of mine in any part of this pamphlet has the most distant allu- 
sion to Mr. Lloyd, except the pages particularly devoted to him. 
No ; he is not negative wealth/ or a member of great little man* 
kind; but a gentleman. 



. 92 

have known chara&ers to ebb down the current oi 
time, covered with obliquy, who never merited a 
charge inimical to integrity, and where fufpicion 
only created convi&ion, from tamenefs and taci- 
turnity. Every man ought to be fcouted from fo- 
ciety, who will peaceably permit his pofterity to 
inherit his difgrace ; yes if every honefl man would 
demand an investigation of the charges of malice, 
its venom would fubfide* 



To thofe gentlemen who have conducted my commijfion 
bufinefs during my interregnum, I take this publick op- 
portunity oj returning wy thanks for the -zeal and fide" 
lity with which they have maintained my confcquence 
and advanced my inter eft ; and as I cannot too highly 
appreciate their gratitude and integrity, I beg leave 
to tender them the whole profit of their labour as a 
fmall teftimony of my efteem ; but as I have no further 
employment for their affeclionate fervices, I would ad' 
*uife them to adopt fome line of bufinefs more appropri- 
ate to their refpeclive talents, than grain- felling j for 
my friendjhip mufil afjure them that the commijjion bufii- 
uefs requires much patience, much punduality, and an 
extenfive geographical information. It is neceffary not 
only to know the product of the Ukrain, the fupply 
wanted by the Atlantic countries of Europe, but where 
that demand is to be gratified from. Indeed it will be 
neceffary for you to know the influence of the Monfoons, 
to know whether the fands of Arabia have injured the 
crops on the prolifick Jhores of Egypt. You mitft, my dear 
friends, be acqnainted with all thofe circumftances to 
fit you for commijfion merchants, or elfe you will mis- 
lead your correfpondents 9 and your captain will ridi- 
cule you. 

But I cannot part with thofe tried friends, Mr. 
Richard Nicols, and Mejrs, Barroll &f Ricaud, with- 



93 

out fome animadverfions, It is a juftice I owe my 
own feelings to explain the injury they have lefpec- 
tively cfirefted againft me. From Mr. Nicols I had 
no claim, except candour and a reciprocation of 
thofe civilities which I had fhewn him fince his com- 
mencement in the commiilion bufinefs ; but from 
MefTrs, Barroll & Ricaud I had much to expeft ; and 
as I know that a promulgation of fervices rendered 
extinguishes all obligation, 1 wifh that principle to 
be applied t;> this cafe, as a final fettlement of all 
tranfaftions anteriour to this publication, muft be 
obliterated before I can again ever charitably re- 
fpeft that firm* I now declare to the world that 
when thofe gentlemen commenced bufinefs on the 
wharf under every poilible difadvantage without 
friends or capital, that my credit, my time, & my friend* 
Jhip, were volunteered to advance their profit and 
confequence ; and in all cafes of endorfement my 
name was given without reference to date or fum, 
and after they became members of my family, my 
attachment to James Barrol, almoll rivalled my fra- 
ternity to my brother; and during my fuil tide of 
profperity, it afforded me infinite pleafure to find that 
firm participate in the advantages of it ; in fa ft my 
regard and confidence was boundlefs, for in all in- 
ftances where I had grocery orders I tranfcribed and 
delivered them over to thofe gentlemen for execu- 
tion, without even pricing an article. In many ca- 
fes I had complaints of price and quality, and in 
fome a return of the goods ; but fuch was my de- 
licacy that their feelings were never aflailed by fuch 
circumftances. It is alfo to be underftood, that at 
the expiration of every fixty days my note was giv- 
en for the amount of running account during that 
time, fo that the payments were negotiable and 
punftual, 



94 
Now, my friends and fellow citizens, permit me 
to illufirate the remuneration 1 have experienced 
for thofe unlimited acts of friendfhip. In the firfl: 
place I admit that thofe gentlemen have occafionally 
lent me their paper, which was always duly honour- 
ed, except in the inftance of Mr. Ballet's draft for 
between 7 and g Xoo, which they endorfed to en- 
able me to negotiate ; and as that gentleman had lent 
on funds which were received and applied by Cooke 
and Wiifon, I could not pollibly provide for the 
fame, in confequence of which my embarrafments 
were magnified to their primary wifh ; the event 
was immediately communicated to Mr, Ricaud who 
was then on the Eafrern Shore, who, with tele- 
graphick difpatch echoed my commercial difgrace 
through Kent county, and from thence proceeded to 
the refidence of the highly refpeclable Mr, BalTett, 
wbere the budget was again opened, and my mis- 
fortunes triumphantly infulted ; and without giving 
Mr. Baffet even time to demand an explanation 
from me, a writ was iiTued againft him ;* but their 
plan was to increafe clamour againft Wilmer. He 
will die hard ; but every gallivay kick pufhes him a 
little further down the hill of misfortune. 

* By William Bam 11, Etq. of Chester town. In this cafe 
those gentlemen had the most unqualified assurance that the 
paver of the note was good, but Mr. Barroll's motive was to 
sanction clamour anil extort a counter suit from Mr. Bassett, 
against me here, which did take place; and had it not have 
been for the friendship of Dr. Karris, who wrs the agent of 
Mr.- Passett, and the politeness of the marshal, I should have 
been dragged from my beloved family to the walls of confine- 
ment. !Now, my friends and fellow-citizens, permit me to ob- 
serve that William Barroll, Esq. and myself have been com- 
panions and friends from cur infancy ; end it is also to be 
known that Mr. Barroll, not many years since had to encoun- 
ter the most pain fid afflictions that human incident could cre- 
ate, and the very moment the event Mas announced to me, (not- 
wiiji landing my extreme indisposition) I waved every domes- 



95 

Mr. Ricaud returns to Kent, and while feated on 
my own saddle, and his nag dire tied by my own bridle, 
did he travel from poft to pillar to pubafh the folici- 
tations of their firm for my bufinefs. — This was even 
before I funendered it myfeif. Circulars were alio 
lent to fome of my mod refpe&able connexions, 
whofe reply was, that Meffrs. Barroi and Ricaud 
might have watted until my (hoes were unbuckeled 
before they jumped into them. I fay, after this faid 
Benny Ricaud had aggravated my misfortunes to 
his primary wifh, he returned to Baltimore, where 
I was in felfifh captivity ; but the object was not yet 
confummated. It was well known that I was fued 
for enormous fums, which I did not owe a cent of; 
and bail was required, from the clamours of the day 
induftrioufly circulated by my enemies, and patron- 
ized by the taciturnity and grimace of my negative 
friends, notwithitanding their conviction of my in- 
nocence. I fay, in this dilemma, inilead of Barroi 
and Ricaud's coming forward, as I avow to my God 
I mould have done under fimilar circum fiances, to- 
wards either of them, '*Mr. Wilmer, we fincerely 
regret that your misfortunes, from an over zeal to 
ferve others, has placed you and your family in fo 
painful a fituation ; we come forward to affure you 
of our unceafing friendfhip, and a perfect confuience 

tick concern, and flew to the administration of solace to my dis- 
tressed friend, and his good venerable mother: here, I say, 
did I leave my own family and ride fifteen miles to soften the 
afflictions and to man the fortitude of my sinking friend, and 
when legislative interference was solicited, did I not in defi- 
ance of the clamour against Mr. Barroll accompany him 
to Annapolis where I found him almost friendless, but as my 
feelings were embarked to untrammel an injured man (from 
the most poignant of miseries) every effort was essayed by me 
to accomplish the object. Now, my friends and fellow citi- 
zens, I take ~ny leave of William Barroll, Esq. for ever, and* 
I wish you to contemplate my justificatioa. 



96 
Sn your innocence of the charges which calumny 
has created againft you ; but as we are youn^ men, 
whofe fortunes depend on our credit and induftry, 
our fervices can only be limited ; but we mould 
delight at all times in having an opportunity of ma- 
nifefting our regard for yourfelf and family, " This 
language would have embraced that philanthrophy, 
gratitude, fympathy, and foul-like fincerity, as would 
have extorted this reply : " My dear friends, I high- 
ly eftimate your fellow-feeling ; but fooner than 
jeopardize your credit or characters, I would fuffer 
any mortification that the laws of my country may 
inflict." But inftead of this conduct, they never 
came near me, but permitted me to be vilified in 
their prefence, when they knew my innocencej 
which was cruelty unparralleiled, and ingratitude of 
the blacked die. 

Under this prefiure of mifery and defpondence, 
and when thofe men, from whom 1 had every claim 
fhort of implicating their property and credit, were 
nurfmg hope and fear that I fhould be faved. I lay, 
in this fituation did George Blackfton (who mil- 
placed confidence in mankind had once ruined) 
come forward on every occafion, and entered my 
fpecial and appearance bail, to the full extent of his 
property. There was difmterefted benevolence, 
tried friendfhip, and incommenfurate philanthro- 
phy ; and if letters of blood could more expremvely 
record my high fenfe of gratitude for the favours I 
have received from him during my fcene of diftrefs, 
my veins fhould be opened to furnifh the materials. 
Now, my friends, view the contraft. 

For Barrol and Ricaud I would have done every 
thing commercial within my power ; for G. Black- 
fton, nothing. 

From Barrol and Ricaud I received nothing but 



97' 
the bafeft ingratitude; and from G. Blackfton I 
have received more than I have language to exprefs. 
This difference in man arifes from this poiitive fad ; 
that whenever you wifh to make enemies of the 
world, neglect your own intereft, and devote your 
whole time to tne convenience of others ; this is a 
certain way of fucceeding in that principle. 



I find, my friends and fellow-citizens, that much 
pains have been taken, in Kent county particularly, 
to eilablifh the difference between the punctuality of 
Richard Nicolls, Efq. and myfelf ; and that the 
farmers' money was frequently withheld for a limit- 
ed time by me to their difadvaniage. I plead guilty 
to the lafl charge, when applied to fome inftances ; 
but I beg your attention to the following facts ,: 
Mr. Nicolls embraced the commiflion bufinefs from 
farnilified influence, and notwithstanding he enrolled 
many of my mod valuable correfpondents in the lift 
of profit from conneclionjhip, yet I challenge him or 
any other perfon to fay that my conduct: towards 
him ever exhibited any thing but candour without 
jealoufy, and friendfhip without deception ; — and 
whenever the indifpofjtion of his family or any other 
local caufe required Mr. Nicolls's abfence, I fold his 
grain and tranfacted his bufinefs without fee or re- 
ward, with the fame faithfuinefs that I did my own 
confignments. 

After this explanation, I feel it my duty to ac- 
count for the caufe which has given rife to Mr. Ni- 
colls' rumoured advantages over me. I may here 
again obferve, that the difpofition of the large pro- 
portions of grain was allotted to me ; and as the 
market was frequently furcharged, I was compelled 

N 



m 

to relieve it's burthen by felling large quantities of 
grain on credit, in order to fortify the farmer again ft 
the monied influence of this city ; and in many cafes 
I created a market from the accommodation, when" 
enterpriie had been lulled to lallitude, from the dif- 
ficulty of obtaining money. I did all this at my own 
rifque, and was frequently difappointed as to dif- 
counts on as good paper as could be offered to any 
bank.. Well, if I ihaved the note, the facrifice of in- 
creafed intereil was mine, and in many inftances the 
fact was fo. However, the farmer, if he did not re- 
ceive his money by the return of the boat, it was not 
long withheld from him ; and the advanced price 
from thofe arrangements, fully compenfated for the 
temporary detention of funds. 

Now let us fee what has been Mr. Nicolls's con- 
duct : He had the fmaller quantity of grain for fale, 
and my candour and friendfhip at all times announ- 
ced my fales for his government ; — and as I was the 
relief-guard of the market, there was always money 
fufficient to purchafe his quantity, which enabled 
him to iemit the funds : but, on the contrary, if the 
whole produce at particular periods had imperioufly 
demanded cam fales, the farmer would have been a 
victim to fpeculators, inftead of reciprocating advan- 
tages with the miller and merchant. For the con- 
firmation, of thofe facts, I appeal to every important 
character with whom I have had the honour to tranf- 
aet bufmefs. 

I have lived, as before premifed, on the mofl 
friendly, neighbourly, and bufinefs-doing terms, with 
Mr. Nicolis ; but in all the trials of inifchance, mif- 
hap, misfortune, and mifgo, did Mr. Nicolis iteadi- 
ly cultivate the bufmefs of my friends, without a 
friendly vifit or folitary reflection as to my fituation. 

Ejut I rnoft chcarfully and charitably forgive Mr. 



m 

NicoIIs for his negleSing me in diftrefs ; and appro- 
bate his endeavouring to advance his intereft ; but I 
cannot foon forget his proteft of rny order for ten 
xiollars worth of groceries in favour of captain Cow- 
ard, predicated fpecifically on the affurance that he 
had funds in hand depofited by captain Morgan 
Browne, This event happenned when I was labour- 
ing under criminal charges, and of courfe furnifhed 
a frefh poignard to my piercing miferies. I declare 
that under fimilar circumftances, my high veneration 
and refpecr. for Mr, Nicolls mould not have halted at 
profperity, but I would have followed his feel- 
ings to the gloom of adverfity, without permitting 
ten dollars to have marred my benevolence. At the 
moment Richard Nicolls, Efq. belittled himfelf fo 
far as to proteft my order for ten dollars, which 
I thought he had in hand, Nicholas Strike, a 
conftable of this city, in order to fave the feelings of 
my bleeding family, voluntarily prevented official vi- 
gilance, by entering my fpecial bail for $ 10,000, 
which fum nearly implicated every mi ling that had 
rewarded a life t>f labour. Here I found a heart 
which would have dignified a monarch in the pof- 
fefiion of a tip-ftaff; and for his magnanimity, be- 
nevolence and delicacy, I bind myfelf, my heirs and 
aiTigns.in an obligation of the moft lively gratitude 
to him and his heirs forever j and I hope when fuch 
a proof of friendfhip is forgotten by me or mine ? 
that our God v/ill forget us. Great aclions ought 
to be the offspring of wealth and power ; but in my 
purfuits through this world, I mull acknowledge that 
even in the infancy of our country, wealth has com- 
mitted fuch fpoliations on native fincerity, that often- 
tation and folly are the general characr.erift.icks of 
monied influence, and that that grade of fociety 
which does not excite envy is the moil to be relied 



100 

on ; they only require value for value, and a perfect 
reciprocation between obliger and obligee liquidates 
all accounts. 



Having now travelled through my catalogue of 
misfortunes, I prefurae to tender my fervices to 
my fchooi-mates, my acquaintance and my friends, 
in my old line of bufmefs ; and I pledge my- 
felf to my God, to you, and my country, that the 
utmoft faithfulnefs fhall attend every department of 
the, bufmefs allotted to my charge ; and as I have 
difmantled myfelf from the importunity of negative 
wealth, and the hypocricy of great little mankind, 
my whole time mall be devoted to the advancement 
of the intereft of thofe who may be pleafed to confide 
In me. And I beg leave to aflure my patrons that I 
am now in a better fiiuation to do them juftice than 
1 have been for the lad three years ; and, in addition 
to my former bufinefs, I am to derive a commiflion 
for the fale of groceries for MerTrs. Levering and 
Nelms, whofe credit, capital and experience, added 
to the advantages of their (land, will, I hope, induce 
my friends generally to give thofe gentlemen a pre- 
ference, efpecially as they are determined to extend 
their bufinefs to the fupply of every article in the 
grocery line, which will gratify price, tafte and 
purfe. The ufual variety of fait will always be on 
hand, and the receipt of ftorage will always be ac- 
commodated- 

S. WIUJER. 



APPENDIX. 

IT was reprefented to the Houfe of AlTembly, 
that I had received upwards of g 40,000, in a few 
months, before I extended my grace of payment, 
without having accounted for it ; but if I could have 
enjoyed that privilege that 1 thought the conftitu- 
tion fecured to every citizen, I mould have con- 
vinced every member of that honourable body, 
that the following (latements are fa&s : 

A large fum was reprefenced to have been raifed 
on Samuel Ringgold's paper for my ufe. 

With refpecl to his tranfactions, and mine, it is 
to be remembered that agreeable to Mr. Bardie's 
certificate and the amount of the award, my credit 
was embarked for upwards of g 30,000, on his ac- 
count as I was compelled not only to endorfe, but 
to iffue my own paper for his purpofes ; and it would 
have been very hard under thole circumftances, if 
my diftrefTes, added to Mr. Ringgold's boundlefs 
profeflions, would not juftify my ufe of his name 
for 6 or S 7,000. However, the amount of the 
award will retire the paper, and the difference be- 
tween us would revert to its proper fource, ufury ; 
fo that not even impropriety, much lefs crime, can 
attach to me for this great fum, for which I have 
fatisfa&orily accounted. 

Well then from Cooke & Wilfon I had received 
$ 14,000, (Old Paddy told a gentlemen in this city, 
24,000) however, either fum was moll rapidly 
found by thofe men after the failure of Walter Wil- 
fon, in Philadelphia- Now the fact is that Cooke 
& Wiifon's proved account, under which they at- 



109 

tached my property, only amounts to $ 8,2 f^, which 
arifes entirely from the retirement of country drafts, 
which they contracted to provide for; except the 
payment of fome borrowed money ; but their own 
proved flatement in the hands of tl : irmters will 
exhibit more money credits than debits in that ac- 
count, and for this amount as I have before men- 
tioned, they have r country paper. This 
charge my reader will perceive, was alio ground- 
lefsV 

Well shen from Henry Ward, a huge fum was 
received. 

Yes Henry Ward loaned me g 3 280 for twelve 
months, for my note for 4*000, and he at the 
fame time lent a Mr. Ringgold 2,000 on the fame 
terms. When our notes were at maturity, and as 
he did not want the money, I gave him a renewal 
arid notes for the inter- it . This accounts for the 
Large claim of Ward's againd me, for my readers 
mull all know that ufury is a mammoth intereft — - 
but when it is compounded with fliavery a fmall 
fum foon finds its double. Yes that was all the 
money I ever received from Ward, on continued 
loan, and that was near two years fince. 

Well then I have implicated Mr. Lloyd for about 
$ 11,940, and 1 obtained the money at two an half 
per cent per month, which reduced the fum to 
11,283 33 cents ; more than one third of this 
money was originally borrowed for JVIr, Lloyd's ufe, 
and a long time fince ; but I continued to renew it, 
with my own notes and paid a fnaving inhered, after 
Mr. Lloyd's payment to me ; for I muft do him the 
juliice to fay that I never tranfacled bufinefs with 
more pleafure, and that I always found him ftriclly 
honourable and punctual. Well then the balance 
of the money received on the difcount of Mr. 



103 

Lloyd's paper was applied to ufury and the retire- 
ment cf notes ; for you are all to know, that let 
a man's mind be ever fo much palfied by commer- 
cial embarraiTments, pride will druggie againft ftop- 
page, while there is a dollar in bank; and if I had 
intended Mr. Lloyd an injury, by enriching myfelf 
at his expenfe, I could juft as eafily have raifed 
$ 50,000 on his paper as ten, but my motives were 
different; I expetled to take up the paper, and to 
apologize to Mr. Lloyd for having ufed it. 

And laftly it was dated to their honours that, I 
fold fome bank fh&res for colonel Stewatt, contrary 
to his orders ; when the colonel left his certificate 
with me, he told me to write him, and as foon as 
the transfer books were opened that he would &rA 
on a power of attorney, and that I mull transfer 
four fhares to a gentleman in Prince George's coun- 
ty, and the balance I might fell whenever the price 
arrived at $ 16, and that I might have the ufe of 
the money without intereft, until he came up in 
Auguft. At this juncture, I had to provide for 
Mr; Ringgold's man from afar, and actually fold 
colonel Stewart's (hares at 12^ to relieve Ring- 
gold's preifure. This tranfa&ion can (hew no 
crime, becaufe I had only to transfer four (hares, 
when the books were opened, and I intended to 
fhave one of Ringgold's notes for the purpofe of 
purchafing four fhares as well as to refund colonel 
Stewart his money at S j 6 per lhare ; however the 
duff could not be obtained and my embsrrafTmems 
had arrived to that pitch, that I found it neceflfary 
tofecure colonel Stewart; which I have moil fatis- 
fadorily done, and for that gentleman's conducl to 
me generally, and his delicacy with refpect to this 
tranfadion particularly, he (hall always find my gra- 
titude. Here again no money can be fonnd transfer- 



104 

red to my coffers ; I acknowledge that it was wrong 
to apply Mr. Stewart's funds to fatisfy Mr. Ring- 
gold's debt ; but let every reader confider the cafe 
and formality that attends commercial profperity, 
and then permit themfelves to be tranfported to the 
dark veil of agonized adverfity, and then judge im- 
partially and benevolently. Yes, my fellow-citi- 
zens, have I been held out as an aggreflbr of the 
^-^^moit multiplied crimes, and with ail the ho/ours of 
novel, commercial miiliap, as if mine was the firft 
commercial mifgo in this city, and as if I had flood- 
ed the world for its deftru&ion ; but, my friends 
and fellow-citizens, where is the bank that has loft 
a milling by me ; where is the merchant that has 
been injured by my purchafes and non-payment ; 
where is the miller whofe contracts with me have not 
been fulfilled ? 

Where can a mechanick be found who will fay 
that my dealings have trefpaffed on his convenience; 
where is the farmer who exhibits lofs by me, except 
on reciprocal fpeculation and accommodation ; and 
where is the friend who has or will ever fuffer by 
confidence in me ; — and I finally hope that every 
fhaver will receive his juft demands, for I mud can- 
didly declare that they never came to me for paper, 
and that the monies I commanded from them was 
from my own felicitations ; but I alfo declare, that 
if there had not been (having- {hops, I mould now be 
a man of fortune. And now read, by way of my 
laft dying fpeech as an author, the following quef- 
tions : — 

Where is the farmer whofe debts of prefiure were 
not relieved by my refources as far as my power ex- 
tended ? 

Where is the creek that wanted a boat for the 
comfortable tranfportation of the farmer and his 



105 

grain, but my exertions and my purfe advanced that 
convenience — I mean in the counties where my 
bufinefs extended ? 

Where is the captain whofe neceflities required a 
limited advance of money, that was rejected on ap- 
plication to me ? 

V/here is the fifherman who wanted (alt through 
me, but received it on my credit ? 

Where is the parent who wifhed a fituation for 
his fon, through me, but what commanded my ex- 
ertions, and frequently fucceeded in his object, ? 

When were the calls of want echoed at my door, 
without having charity extended to its relief? — 
No, my extension of grace beyond the bank bye- 
laws will never confign a creditor to a jail-death, 
nor ever bankruptize a fhaver. 

Let my readers remember, that ufury in finance is 
a phyfical lock-jaw ; and that no profit or logick can 
arreft its poifon. 

F IN I & 



o 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

I Sincerely regret that my finances are fo far 
below par at present, that I cannot defray the ex- 
penfes of my pamphlet of defence, againft the ma- 
licious charges which have obloqui%ed my character 
for feveral months paft; and I mml therefore bear 
the mortification of offering it for fale. 

It is to be recolle&ed, my friends and fellow citi- 
zens, that the ftyle is dictated by feelings without a 
critical reference to orthography, and as it has been 
compofed no fatter than the printers have furnifh- 
ed me with proof meets, I hope to efcape unfriend- 
ly remarks. The manufcript pamphlet I have fo 
long promifed for publick perufal, is entirely fuper- 
ceded by this which contains facl: and misfortune : 
that was compofed merely to gratify the fpleen of 
the moment ? 

And I now prefume to recommend my volume 
of painful events to the hufband who loves his wife* 
and then let him contraft happinefs and mifery. 

To the father who has fons maturing to manhood, 
in order to fortify the expanding mind againft the 
fhifts and hypocricy of great little mankind. 

To the religious, whofe piety is at war with the 
fnares of Satan. 

To the merchant, whofe negotiations for the con- 
venience of friendjhip fubje&s him to the fufpicion 
oT forgery. 

To the mechanic k, whofe labours are unrewarded, 
by the frozen put off of " call again." 

To the fhaver who extorts ufury in violation of 
divine and human laws. 



108 

And laftly, to my brother victims to fhavery in 
order to know that Mofefes have got the monies, but 
that law was fovourable to the chriftian diftrefs. 
The publick's 

Obedient fervant, 

SIMON WILMER. 
P. S. If my language agamft any of my perfe- 
cutors is confidered raih by my readers, I mufl in- 
vite them to embrace thofe feelings which have 
naturally refulted from the mod painful fcenes, that 
perfecutioti ever created againfl: a fellow man. 

S. W. 



E li R A T T A. 

Page W, line 28, for "February 3," read February J 8. 
Page 20, line 24, for "John Hammbnd, Esq." read Jon* 
."Montgomery, Esq. 

Page 22, lin6 5, for ■" Iks," read letters. 

Page 65, line 9, for " ingratitude/* read ingrates. 

Page.23, line 8, for ." direction ," read devotion. 






